Just Checking In!
HELLO FROM SAMANTHA
Hello to Lidia and all of our World Service Readers
I hope that everyone enjoyed the weekend. I was rather disappointed, because despite the beautiful sunny spring weather we experienced last week, it was cold and rainy over the weekend … I had planned to spend the weekend working in my garden, but because of the weather was unable to do so … I grow vegetables, salad leaves, fruit and herbs in my garden, which my family eat in the summer. It’s nice to make meals for my family with food fresh from my garden, I know it has no chemicals or fertilisers on it. Spring is the time to prepare the ground and plant seeds and bulbs, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to do any preparation this weekend. In summer, when I’m cooking in the evening, I often send my husband or my elder son down into the garden to pick some herbs. Actually, my son is better at getting them than my husband, because I realised that my husband had been picking leaves from a bush by mistake! Fortunately, they weren’t poisonous! I grow many herbs that are used in English cooking, perhaps you have already heard of some of them: basil, parsley, chives, sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano, coriander, mint, bay, fennel. Some are used to prepare meat or fish (added to a marinade before cooking), others are used in sauces and some are just chopped up and sprinkled onto salads or cooked vegetables. You can also make mint tea by pouring boiling water onto a handful of mint leaves, and it is good for settling an upset stomach.
Many thanks to Lidia for telling us about her own personal learning journey, studying English in Moscow and in Ireland. I know from your comments that you are all enjoying reading about her adventure, and I’m looking forward to reading the next part today! I’ve included some language aims for Lidia at the end of this article.
This week, I’d like to look at language learning techniques, which is why I asked you to send in your comments about vocabulary learning on Friday. Thanks for your all of your comments, they make a very useful guide to techniques for vocabulary learning. Did you know that there are over 500,000 words in English? Of course, we only use a fraction of these in speech; it’s estimated that native speakers use around 5,000 in everyday speech. Our understanding of words that we recognise but don’t use is known as our passive vocabulary, and the words we actually use in speech or writing is know as our active vocabulary. I’m going to try not to repeat all of your hints included in Friday’s comments, because your advice is excellent! Please read through the ideas again, and look at my own suggestions:
Keep a notebook
I know many of you mentioned this, but I had to start with this as I have a couple of extra hints!
i. Try to write an explanation in English, and to learn the explanation as well as the word.
ii. If the word is a verb, write down the prepositions (by, to at, in, of) that follow the verb. Remember, some verbs take a direct object without a preposition.
iii. Write down the phonemic spelling of the word. This is usually included in a good dictionary. In my experience, it is the long vowel sounds that often cause problems for many learners.
iv. You can also note the syllable stress. A syllable is a single unit of rhythmic sound: in the following examples each syllable is shown with a [o], and the stressed syllable with a [0]. For example “book” is one syllable [0], “learning” is two syllables [0o], “adventure” is three syllables [o0o] and so on. Take care with noun/verb syllable stress. For example: conflict [0o] (noun), conflict [o0] (verb); subject [0o] (noun), subject [o0] (verb).
v. Write down collocations of the word. Collocations are groups of words that are frequently used together. Collocations are listed with the word definitions in a good English-English dictionary.
The notes in your notebook might look like this:
Conflict [0o], noun.
Fight, struggle, war (plus translation into your own language if necessary).
Used with adj. (adjectives) armed or bitter. Takes prep. (preposition) between eg. There is conflict between the two nations.
Conflict [o0], verb.
Be in disagreement or opposition with someone or something.
Takes prep. with eg. This idea conflicts with our previous plans.
Tomorrow, I’ll take a look at ways of helping to make your passive understanding more active! Until then, good night!
Best wishes,
Samantha.
Task
What does “checking in” mean here, in today’s title?
PS. Language Aims for Lidia.
Thanks Lidia, for blogging so regularly. It’s great to read your reports, and to see your English improving at the same time. It might be a good idea to concentrate on the following points this week:
i. Try to expand your range of vocabulary, by using synonyms occasionally.
ii. Use adverbs to begin sentences, or add emphasis within sentences (see Friday 9th Teacher blog).
iii. Check your sentence structure, as some of your sentences still don’t have subjects or verbs.
iv. Watch out for the usage of certain words: “discover” means find.
I discovered a wonderful cake shop yesterday. I think you have used discover to mean show or explain or tell. I would like to show you Moscow / I would like to tell you about my Irish adventure.
“Majority” is a noun, I think the word you wanted to use about tourist attractions is significant or important:
Today I want to show you some significant places in Moscow.
v. Remember that the present simple tense is used to describe general facts, or everyday conditions:
Every day thousands of people from the Moscow region go to work in Moscow.
USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
disappointed (adjective)
slightly sad about a result or condition
chemical (noun)
here, chemical is used to mean the substances which are used in farming to kill insects and stop fruits and vegetables from going mouldy
fertiliser (noun)
chemicals which are used in farming to promote rapid growth
prepare the ground (verb)
this means to get the soil ready for planting by digging it over, taking out stones and smoothing it over
plant (verb)
this means to put seedlings or plants (noun) into the soil to grow
seed (noun)
the tiny, dry capsule which will grow into a flower or vegetable with soil and moisture
bulb (noun)
larger than a seed, this is a fleshy nugget which grows into a flower or a plant
preparation (noun)
the work that has to be done to get something ready
pick (verb)
break / cut off
bush (noun)
small, decorative plant
poisonous (adjective)
harmful if eaten
marinade (noun)
liquid used to flavour meat or fish before it is cooked. Also a verb, to marinade.
settle (verb)
calm down, relax
upset stomach (noun)
painful or gassy stomach
language aims (noun)
specific goals to work towards to improve one’s language ability
language learning techniques (noun)
strategies to improve one's language ability
fraction (noun)
small part
estimated (adjective)
calculated, supposed
passive vocabulary (noun)
words you understand the meaning of but don't use
active vocabulary (noun)
words you use in speech and writing
native speakers (noun)
people who speak a certain language as their first language
hint (noun)
advice to help someone
suggestion (noun)
advice to help someone
explanation (noun)
meaning of a word or phrase
preposition (noun)
small words used after verbs (at, by, in , to under etc)
phonemic spelling (noun)
spelling using international phonemic symbols
syllable stress (noun)
the stressed syllable in a word is the strongest syllable
collocation (noun)
groups of words that are frequently used together
Comments
Dear Samantha! and dear all bloggers! Spring is coming, but not quickly in my region. Thin weekend it was felt that it was springtime, but temperature was low. Moreover today evening was so foggy, that car driving was dangerous. It was first so thick fog in this year. I really love evening thick frog, especially aroung my home, which is situated very close to wood. The frog around my home lays in layers and when you drive through it you can recognize its structure. One can feel a bit frightend, but also fantasticly... From today one thing has started worry me, it repeats twice a year, once in spring, and once in late autumn. It is the necessity of tyres changing in my car, wich requiers to arrange a visit to machnic service and after do it. Every year I live with this stamp on me everage for two-three months, and usually I drive my car with summer tyres when there is a lot of snow, and with winter tyres in the middle of summer... Why is it that an engineer abhors tyres changing in his car so much? Best wishes for everyone!
Hello Samantha! At my home we also grow a garden with some herbs. You can really feel the difference between the herbs we cultivate at home who grows without fertiliser stuffs from the ones that we buy at the supermarket. Actually the herbs that we grow at home are more tasty, therefore it´s a pleaure use herbs that we cultivated in our garden in the dishes. Oh... of course we can´t never let miss in our garden the mint for settling a upset stomach. I have to confess that I often go there and pick some mint to make tea. We also cultivate other kinds of tea such as anis, camomile and other teas that I don´t know the name in English. Believe me it´s very useful in a emergency case, though as my mother always says we have to use carefully this herbs, because if you use them excessively or in a wrong way they might be dangerous for the health. I thought, then I made some reaserchs, but I can´t be able to tell you what you mean with cheking in. I guess I have to wait for your next entrance. Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Thanks for your wonderful language techniques.I have all in mind and it will help me a lot in future.Interestingly,i have a small garden as yours,in which i planted kinds of vegetables-lettuce at this time,chives.But there are some you mentioned we donnot plant in my country,i am sure they must have nice smell.You might be a good cook;i also cook at home,after a fashion.As for the task-checking in,literally,it means to join in some activity or you attend some courses.I think it also means participation is important,so never mind the result.Are you content my answer?I think it is a informal phrase in everyday speech.So maybe i can say to all the bloggers:"Just checking in."Good Luck!
Hello Samantha: I think that saying “ Just Checking In “ you mean that you are back to work after your weekend. You are back on this site. Usually people check in at a hotel or airport. They report about their arriving. I hope my guess is right :-)) Sometimes English language trips me up, I hope not this time though. I look forward to reading about some ways to make passive understanding more active. That’s just what I soooo need. Have a good day at work.
Dear Samanthe, How are you , I am Fanny from Hong Kong. Can you suggest which website can teach how to say the vocabulary. Thank you very much!
Hi Samantha… today´s title did not completely become clear to me in the context that it was used. Check in to my knowledge means to arrive and register at a hotel for example. I look forward to hear other comments and finally for you clarification. I loved your story about your husband getting the herbs from your garden! My favorite herbs at the moment are chives, rosemary and coriander. Lately I have been making myself acquainted with Indian food and fresh coriander goes very well with Indian dishes. All the best for everyone.
I am a foreigner working in Sri Lanka. It's very pleasant to read your blog. The most funny thing is that you like herbs also. In Sri Lanka, people cook their food with herbs for almost every meal.
Thank you for your not easy but valueable advice. I'd like to add a playful way I use to improve my english. I like to sing musics in english although my voice fails me. A great fraction of the words or expressions I see or hear, I have already seen in some music. They stay latent in my memory. Just to illustrate, this word in your text " settle", just to read that, it promptly reminds me the music "Father and Son"- Cat Stevens". In my opinion, this music is wonderful because it's a dialogue between a father and a son. Cat Stevens makes the 2 voices so well that you almost believe there are 2 persons singing. In the father's voice, he sings with a calm voice giving advices to his son who wants to move away from home and when he is the son, the voice is loud and full of revolt. It's magical! Here is a part of the song ( the father): Metaphoring, if we are the ground, the english language is the plant and you are our gardner. Good night, Samantha BBC Learning English writes: Unfortunately we've had to remove the lyrics, because of copyright issues. Please don't include lyrics in your comments, as we can't publish them. Sorry!
Hi Samantha, your garden is so amazing! I think it must be SO beautiful in summer and autumn. Don't be upset about the weather. I wish you have a sunny weekend three days later. In my hometown, that's my parents' house, we have a garden as you. My parents always plant some fruits and vegetables every year, such as pears, oranges, grapes, cabbages and so on. My father also plants many beautiful flowers. And we have some golden fish too. I do hope one day I can show you some pictures! In today's blog, I think checking in means you come to the website, read our comments, and give us something more about your lives. Am I right? I do hope you will enjoy everyday! Wish to see you tomorrow! Bye for now. Jill.
It's awesome!i love this place. although it's my first time to read both blogs, i have made up my mind to keep on doing this!it's authentic. it's very real.that's what attracts me!thanks for the 2 bloggers.
Dear Samantha! Isn`t it something like you are examining us or controlling our knowledges? We are your students! I guess only. You know I am just worrying about tyres changing which I dislike much. Might there be one who would have bought new ones for an old car for such unforgettable winter? Where is the time for learning and reading another books? I wish you and to others, too,much of fun by gardening!
Samantha, wow! I've been reading the blog since the beginning. What's more, I've been studing English for decades. And I dare to confess Your advice of organizing a vocabulary notebook is the best I've ever come across with. Thank you very much. And I'm looking forward impatiently to reading the recommendations about activating passive vocabulary as well. It is indeed a problem for leaners. And you needn't to be disappointed about your garden. Think of people like us. :) We are also wating for the time for planting seeds and bulbs. But there's oceans of snow over here yet. Especially in a countryside. It will melt away in a month, I reckon. Best wishes.
Hi Samatha. How wonderful it is. You have a garden and you can grow herbs yourself and use it for cooking. It is not only safe and good for your family's helth but interesting. Gardening, in my opinion, is really an effective way of relaxing.
Hi all, It's interesting to read the blogs as well as comments from you. I live in a big highly industralized city, which means that owning a garden in front of my house, planting my own fruits and vegetables, and even breathing fresh air are luxuries -_-. I truly envy the idyllic life that some of you lead. As for food safety, it is now a big problem in China. Perhaps due to the huge demand, the quality of food supply here cannot be guaranteed and many Chinese are worried about the safety of foods we eat everyday.
i would like to know how to change sentences like i am taking bath or i am going to hom.sometimes it difficult for me to change it to passive form.plz solve my prblem.
respected you change a sentence into passive
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