Hi Reader, Feel like you're always blanking out and freezing in the middle of your CELPIP speaking responses - or in everyday conversations? The way to stop freezing is not by buying course books, or studying more. You need to be doing this instead - even a little each day can go a long way if you stay consistent! mr bean lol GIF by britbox Need some help being more consistent with your speaking practice for the CELPIP? Would you like to finally kick your low self-confidence with your English...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Happy Saturday to you! I watched this short from one of my favourite comedians the other day, and I wanted to share it with you to (hopefully) enjoy. (It's just 30 sec long.) What I hope you'll notice: how he uses his tone of voice! Notice what he does with it to emphasize ideas. Is it always the same? The lesson for you on the CELPIP: make sure you let feeling come through your voice. Don't let it be a monotone! Are you an introvert needing help with your speaking skills for the...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, This week I visited a new physiotherapist. I've been battling chronic back pain for 5+ years, and over that time I've worked with 2 chiropractors, 2 physiotherapists and have been x-rayed so many times I think I might glow in the dark - and nothing has helped me or the pros I've been working with get rid of the pain. The pain is every day, and it sucks. Well, my newest physio visit didn't do much to help either. Booo! The therapist did give me some helpful information about my...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, To get better CELPIP scores, you need better practice. (Duh!) Jim Carrey Reaction GIF But not the kind of practice where you get lost behind a course or grammar book. Those might help...a little...but they're not near as powerful and potent for practice as...(drumroll please!) actually using your English in day-to-day situations. Excuses Reasons To Avoid Practice I've got many friends who are immigrants. Most of them, not all of them, but most of them rarely use their English...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I've been experimenting with using an open source podcast recording tool called Audacity. I used it before many years ago, but I've forgotten much about how it works. So it's felt like using it for the first time. When the episode went live, I noticed a constant, annoying 'hiss' in the background. It sounded unprofessional, and it frustrated the heck out of me to hear! But it was already live! To be honest, it bothered me the entire day, so when I got home after work, I spent an...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Many test takers that I've worked with make this mistake: not leaving enough time for a conclusion in their speaking task responses. It's a simple mistake, but it can negatively impact your score. But I've got great news! This is an easy mistake to avoid, and all you need to do is remember the sweet spot! There's a sweet spot? Yep! It's the last 10 seconds of your speaking response. Don't use the last 10 seconds to add another point, or dig a little deeper with the idea you're...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Next week's podcast will feature the most common mistakes I've noticed people making this year as they've practiced for the CELPIP so you hopefully won't make them. But today I wanted to share one of the best CORRECT or right things to do that I've noticed when it comes to vocabulary building. Are you ready? When you hear or learn a new word in English, immediately use it. (After, of course, you're sure what that new word means!) The best and fastest way to learn your new word,...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I am so sore! This past weekend I worked on building a dresser we picked up at IKEA for my kids. I must say that IKEA instruction manuals SUCK. (Sorry if you love IKEA instruction manuals..maybe my mind just doesn't understand them well.) I had to backtrack on my build progress several times because I had not correctly understood the instructions. Backtracking on an IKEA build means unscrewing and pulling apart things you had just screwed and put together. It sucks time and...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Last Sunday afternoon I went on an hour long road trip to visit my Dad because I didn't get a chance to see him at Christmas. We had a nice time visiting and eating together. He showed me a painting he was working on restoring. Pretty cool! And, as many of you know, I'm an avid podcast listener, so I had my podcast app LOADED with shows to keep my ears and brain busy on the road. I've been looking for new shows to like so many of the episodes I downloaded were brand new. Never...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read