Hello Reader, This time of year is THE BUSIEST season where I work, and it's only going to get busier as we enter December - which I still can't believe is just a few days away as I write this, can you? Holy fast! I know you're busy, too. I know some of you are working multiple jobs. I know some of you are working on learning French while keeping your English skills going at the same time. I know some of you are chasing your PR, trying to do everything humanly possible to get your points...
3 days ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, It can feel impossible to improve your speaking and vocabulary skills in English sometimes, can't it? Like no matter how hard you try, you stay stuck (or feel like you do) at the same place, with you using the same words and expressions you're always using. Is there any way out of this? Good news: Feeling stuck like this is normal. It happens to everyone. (And if anyone tells you they've never felt stuck like this before, they are lying my friend.) Getting stuck is normal....
7 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, Would you like a workout for your ears? If AI Is A Bubble, What Happens When it Pops? You might enjoy this podcast episode that I listened to this week. Why I think you might like it? Everyone seems to be talking about AI or using it these days. But few people are talking about how it's all being paid for. (Or not!?) This podcast from CBC's Frontburner, will likely surprise you. Bonus: if you'd like to practice listening to financial info, like huge numbers for example, this...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, You can't pour from an empty cup. Have you ever heard that phrase before? It means that you can't give what you don't have. It has a whole lot to do with your mental health. Your ability to keep going each day, and you know what? Learning English, using English, and trying to get your Canadian immigration paperwork in order all depend on you having something inside your cup, and something to give. In other words: the process of learning English, getting (or keeping) legal status...
14 days ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, What do you think about this? Creating is more powerful than consuming. "When you find things to create, then you actually feel satisfied... when we create, we feel alive." - Gabe Bult I watched and heard this video by Gabe Bult a week or so ago, and it's been rolling around in my head ever since then. Have you ever had that happen to you? You hear or watch something and it sticks to your mind? That's what happened with Gabe's video. I totally agree with him: Consuming things...
17 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, The short and sweet answer: you can be almost sure you'll get a 7 on the CELPIP BEFORE you actually take it. Keep reading to find out how! Have you been feeling stressed or anxious about getting a CLB 7 on the CELPIP? You're not alone. I recently saw a post from someone on Reddit saying they were "so stressed out" about needing that score for their post-graduation work permit. Everything, literally, was riding on them getting that 7. That's a lot of pressure, isn't it? And I bet...
21 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, "No plan survives contact with the enemy." - Helmuth von Moltke the Elder. How's that for a dramatic opening? This week I had a resident come to my office to ask if she could talk with me. She was going through a hard time, and needed someone to listen. I said a silent prayer as I welcomed her in and got her a chair. I'll just ask her questions, and let her talk. That was my simple plan. Well. Not Bad Season 2 GIF by Paramount+ The conversation DID NOT go that way. At all! It...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, I'm so sorry for two emails today. I realized I had some mistakes, and wanted to fix them. (Working on your English? You'll make plenty of mistakes too! Do what I'm doing right now - correct and try again! 😁) --- I bet you've noticed it. I know I have. Darkness. Have you noticed it's getting darker sooner now? And darker in the morning when you get up to head to work? I've noticed it. And then...the cold. Have you noticed that happening yet? Dang. The cold is coming. The dark is...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, Writer and speaker John Maxwell once said, "You'll never find the right answers if you're asking the wrong questions." And I've got a great frequently asked 'wrong question' to share with you today: "How long should I practice for the CELPIP before I take it?" And another popular one: "How long is long enough to practice my English for?" The answer? It's not about how long you need or should be practicing. It's how frequently are you practicing? Frequency matters FAR MORE than...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read