Hello!
Hello everyone!! How lovely to be back on the blogs again. I’ve been enjoying reading them over the last year and hearing about everyone’s adventures. It’s funny that Simon has just come back to the UK as that’s where I am blogging from! I moved back to England with my family in March after almost four years in India and it’s taken a bit of getting used to (supermarkets still scare me a bit) but slowly I am getting to grips with everything and starting to feel settled. I can’t believe it’s five months since we left Delhi though – it feels like only yesterday! Anyway… enough about me.
Welcome Kiran! I’m so pleased to be working with you, and especially pleased that you are from Nepal. I visited your beautiful country in June last year and although we were only able to visit Kathmandu and Bhaktapur we thought it was amazing and are really hoping to go back and properly explore before too long. Here’s a photo of my husband, Ed, and son Louie hanging out on the lovely streets of Bhaktapur…
Louie’s a bit bigger now – he’s two and a half – and is a proper little boy. His favourite thing in the world is riding his bike up and down outside and getting up to mischief with the other boys who live on our street. Our other son, Oslo (Ozzy) is almost eight months old and he was actually with us in Nepal too, but he was only as big as a peanut so he won’t remember it ☺
Now I just have to say one thing Kiran before I go any further… in your blog you refer to yourself as a beginner. Well, you are most certainly not a beginner. While you might get frustrated sometimes, you can express yourself clearly and make yourself understood using a wide range of language and that’s great. Your writing is not bad at all – don’t get too hung up on whether you’re making mistakes or not – remember that language is for communication, it’s not about perfection, so if you can get the meaning across you’re 90% of the way there. Yes grammar is important but I think vocabulary is even more important for language learners… of course we’ll be having a look at both areas over the next month. Your friend Swanaam was absolutely right: watching TV programmes and listening to the radio in English is a great way to learn, as is reading. It doesn’t really matter what you read, watch or listen to as long as you are interested in it (after all, you can’t learn much if it’s so boring that you fall asleep halfway through ☺).
Here in England the government launched a big campaign a couple of years ago to try and get everyone to eat more vegetables called “5 a day” (meaning you need to eat five portions of vegetables everyday – some examples of ‘portions’ are a whole orange, a medium-sized tomato or three tablespoons of peas… you get the idea). SO I was thinking that this month, we should all make an effort to do the same thing with vocabulary – that is, learn 5 new words a day – whaddya think? Yes, I hear this new vocabulary diet is even catching on with celebrities all over the world! Ha ha. Maybe not. But let’s try it. 5 words a day. I’ll help by giving you some phrases and words as usual (some of which you might know already of course) but see if you can also collect them from elsewhere like newspaper or magazine articles. Don’t forget – write them down in a special vocabulary notebook (think carefully about the meaning, don’t just copy the definition from the dictionary), try and use them in sentences and review them often. I’m recommending five because you don’t want to overload yourselves and five is a nice round number after all, don't you think?
Okay that’s it from me today. Your homework, Kiran and everybody, is to go and find that vocabulary notebook that is gathering dust on a shelf somewhere (or buy one), and get going on your 5 a day. (If your vocabulary notebook isn’t gathering dust at all but in constant use then give yourself a pat on the back but still don’t forget your new diet!)
Here are some phrases from this post to start you off – (definitions next blog!)
To get used to something/someone
To get to grips with something
To get up to mischief
To get hung up on something
To get something across
To get the idea
Ooh it’s so nice to be back ☺
I'm looking forward to reading your next blog Kiran and comments from everyone else!
More soon,
Amy
xxx
Comments
Hi Amy, Welcome, I hope your blog will be interesting and helpful for everybody. And you begin with a challenge, 5 words a day. OK, I accept it and will look for an old notebook.
Long time no see, Amy. How was your day? It is a good a opportunity to see you here again at this blog site. How was Loie? He is really bigger than the previous as I see in the picture. I hope you will publish or provide some amazing teacher blogs to all of us in the next 2 months; however,I am looking forward to reading them. Cheers.
Hi Amy, Nice to have you back here! Actually I didn't know this blog when you were a teacher blogger last year,but I've read some stories from your blog,so I already know that you are a great English teacher:-) So I'm glad to read your blog and learn English from you in real time. 5 words a day, it's seemingly easy but actually it's not when it comes to doing it every day. Anyway,I'm sure it's a good way to improve my English, so I'll do my best! I'm looking forward to your next blog. bye for now!
Hi Amy, I'm so happy to meet you again. Last year(when you were blogging) you were pregnant, arn't you? I know from this blog that it was a boy, can you show us a picture of him?? hmmmm about the homework I could guess these meanings: 1-getting used to : (being familiar with) 2-getting up to mischief : ( making problems with other boys) 3-To get hung up on something :(to be annoyed by this thing) 4-To get something across :( to transfer it "to explain the meaning") 5-To get the idea : ( to anderstand the idea)
Dear Amy, First of all, welcome back as a teacher blogger. I was really overwhelmed with joy when I read that you are going to be teacher blogger again for this month. Last year when I started to write comments you were teacher blogger and I learned so many lessons from you. After one year the questions raised by comment writers in that period may not be irrelevant this time but some are also relevant. Meaning of phrases: To get used to something/someone – become familiar, able to adopt To get to grips with something –become able to handle situation To get up to mischief – to do something or show behaviour that isn’t acceptable to other To get hung up on something – to stick in one point to resolve the problem To get something across – to convey message with proper meaning in the process of communication To get the idea- to gather knowledge
Hello, Amy I’ve been hibernating for nearly 2months and I haven’t written my comments same length of the time. But I’ve followed the teachers and students blog all the time. Even though I was being tempted to key in my comments many times I couldn’t have done. Because I was exhausted and felt drained with worries. I can’t tell you in detail but I am getting out of deep water. It’s so nice to have you here again and I do look forward to corresponding with you.
Hello Amy, a warm welcome to you. It's a very nice idea, the vocabulary diet. And indeed, I'm the owner of a vocabulary book, which will be filled with " 5 a day" from now on. I'm looking forward to your next blog , wish you and your family a nice time, so long...
Welcome back Amy! it´s so wonderful to have you here again. Oooh look at Louie. He´s as cute as ever :-). Anyway, I´ve just found the " 5 day vocabulary" a great idea. Do you know when you have that stagnation feeling? Well, it´s pretty much how I´m feeling now about my English. I´m studying... but you know, something is missing. Hmmm... maybe I need to have more discipline and this 5 day program will help me to achieve that :-). Ok, time for the homework: To get used to something/someone: to become familiar or accustomed to something or someone; To get to grips with something: to start to understand and deal with something; To get up to mischief: to do something which is slightly bad; To get hung up on something: to be very worried about something without necessity; To get something across: to make something understandable; To get the idea: to know or understand what something is about. Well, I´m looking forward to seeing the right answers here Amy. Ah of course that I´m looking forward to reading your next blog too :-). See ya, Ana Paula xxx.
Hello Amy....I liked so much your diet...lol...I´ll start to get the 5 new words today, that´s a good way to memorize the words(I have a really big problem to record the words). All the best! see ya
Hi Amy I am Dante, thanks for your post, it was a very pleasant lecture and welcome back. I am from Peru, but I am living in Montreal for a year, so I can say I get used to live here now; of course always there are something new to learn or to do, or to get up to mischief like your son, that is the idea of life right :). Every day I tried to get the hung up on speak fluent English, even though sometimes is difficult because here people speak English and French. I think is a good idea to grip with 5 words/phrases in English, and used them in our everyday activities. By the way, are you a bit scare with the supermarkets in England for the size or for something else? Thanks again and see you in your next post. bye, Dante
Hi,Amy!I will keep "5 a day".Though it will be a little difficult for me to learn everyday I will try my best. Your son look so cute. Best wishes for your family!
Hi Amy, Welcome back. It is nice to learn that you are the blog teacher for this month. It was a different location and different atmosphere when you had blogged last year. But now the situation is totally different one. I hope you have enough time to blog and help us to improve our English and manage your kids, managing kids is a difficult task. isn’t it? 5 words a day. It is a good piece of advice from you Amy. I heard this kind of advice from many people. But it is big question how I followed their advice. We will see how will I follow your advice in the end of the month. Immediately after finishing your blog I verified my vocabulary note when did I write my last word. I felt shame. It was some time in the end of last year. I totally agree with your point that the learners of English should concentrate to enhance the vocabulary power. I will tell you how many new words I learn from you in the next two words bye for now
HI dear Amy What have you been up to ? It 's really superb to chit chat with you after a while . When I saw your nice photo on the web I was so trilled . How is living in your homeland near to your dearest . I still have your final family photo in the Park in India in my computer . You are always in my mind specially as I am in your last year situation . Could I get my idea across ? Well we are impatiently waiting to the Patter of tiny foot !My first cheeky monkey do well and when Louie gets up to mischief with other Boys , I get the idea as it 's the same with my son , every day he learns a mischief from his classmates and some of them are serious and not to be naughty !OH I think I have to get used to be active and get to the string of your Blog as it's a while that I 'm not so active in the BBC BLog . You know ,unlucky I have been busy bee in office and inside home recently . So finally here are my new diet of new vocabulary : To get used to something/someone : try to deal with sth new , To get to grips with something : To deal seriously with sth , To get up to mischief: Learning naughtiness from other Boys , To get hung up on something: to feel worry about sth , To get something across : To Cause sth to be understand , To get the idea : to understand the main idea of sth . At the end kiss lovely Louie and Oslo for me and give my regards to your hubby . Kisses Xxx0 Pary
Hello Amy, Im Mahjabeen from Pakistan. Im writing to you for the first time but i read your previous blogs and they all were very informative and helpful. Do you have an itchy feet?. I like to travel alot. In your posted picture your son Louie looks very cute and i think both of your boys keep you on your toes-:). I like your suggestion of learning five new words each day i will try to hung up on it. I've tried to guess the meanings of your posted words from the context, lets startoff: To get used to something/someone= to become one's habit. To get to grips with something= To get things undercontrol. To get up to mischief= Causing discmofort. To get hung up on something= To be stuck on something. To get something across= To get understand its meanings. To get the idea = To understand the overview of something. See ya, Mahjabeen
Hi Amy :)) Thank you very much for your lovely blog.The shot is very nice and also your son is very cute.Surrounding seems to be unreal.Your writings encourage people to study english maybe a little force us to do my best.It is good idea "5 a day" I will try to do it.My note book is lying down on my table next to me so that new words can be written and can be learnt by heart. Welcome again. I am looking forward to your blogs.
Hi Amy, I’m extremely pleased to know that you were in India for four years! I’m an Indian and live in Burdwan which is near Kolkata (also known as Calcutta). I’m reading this BBC LE’s blogs for couple of months. I’ve not read your previous blogs yet those you’ve written in August and September respectively on last year. As you know India has become global hot spot for outsourcing. But do you think that our English skill is good enough to deliver ‘world class’ service to the rest of the world? Please, I’d like to know your opinion. Anyway, here are your answers my teacher:- 1:- fully familiar with it. It is no longer strange or awkward 2:- to begin to understand and deal with something difficult 3:- to do something that other people think is wrong 4:- very worried about something or thinking about something too much 5:- to be communicated or understood 6:- understand Oh, yes! Your son Louie is really sweet :-) Was he born in India? Do you have any plan to come back to India in future? Thank you very much for this excellent blog. I’m eagerly waiting for your next blog. Pritam.
Hi Amy, welcome and glad to meet you. At the end of the last month I was very busy and I am getting to grips with everything in bbc blog. Your son is lovely and remember me my son when he was with this age. The best wishes
Nice to meet you Amy! I didn't know you because I found the blogs in March and I was lucky to be the student blogger of April. Since then, I couldn't stop being part of this. I liked your blog and the advice you gave us.I have the feeling that this month will be a hectic one because we'll learn a lot from you. Have a nice weekend. See you, Cris
Oh ! Big Surprise it's the photo of our friend Amy !!!!How are you doing ? Good Luck for this month .
Hi Amy,I am new in the bbc learning english and, like Kiran, I wanna improve my English too, so i will try to see all your blogs. Your son is very beautiful! See you later!
Hello Amy,I am proud to have my vocabulary notebook in constant use,yet i am aware that my vocabulary knowledge is very poor.To try to improve it I'll do the task you gave us: Italians will never get used to the English habit of queuing. While staying abroad you are often obliged to get to grips with the way foreign people behave. She is rather intolerant:she's always getting up to mischief with her neighbours. Clever students never get too hung up any irrilevant difficulties they may bump into. After my explanation I am sure you'll get the idea of what it means. bye bye for now maione
Hi Amy, It's fantastic to have you again as a teacher. The image I have of you in my mind is being pregnant. Louies is so cute, as always. I look at his picture and I remember that biscuit. :-). Oh Amy I haven't been studying English properly (how shameful!)and I've forgotten many words. The saving grace is that I and some other student bloggers have become very good friends and we are meeting and speaking at skype, thanks to BBC LE website and facebook page. Good luck and enjoy your stay here again Adri
Hi Amy, My first time in your blog. I liked the idea of learning 5 new words a day so I happily wrote down the phrases you used in this text. I have to tell you that my Canadian friend told me that the Canadians do not say "getting to grips ...", they would rather say "come to grips..." When I was translating next phrase I came across some new words such "mock, scornful and contemptuous". And just let you know I do hung up about the way I look sometime. Just kidding.. I am practicing my new word.
Amy, 5 a day rule sounds perfect. We students need a constant kick on a butt (excuse the expression), as it is so easy just to use words that one feels comfortable with. Amy you did not mention where in England you are living at the moment, maybe you don´t want to? But you mentioned that it had taken some time getting to grips with everything after so many years in India. That is easy to comprehend. I am looking forward reading your blog.
Hello Amy - please to meet you! Your "diet vocabulary" sounds nice and useful, I'll try it. Best wishes
Hi Amy, It's very nice hearing from you again. Thanks for the receipe of "5 a day". I'm on to it from today...
Hi Amy! It is great to hear from you again. As usual, I will definitely follow your advice. I actually went to a stationery shop yesterday. About my private life, I am not longer a trainee. I have recently found a job. It is a temporary one though...half a loaf is better none. I cannot wait to read your next posts. All the best, Filippo
Hi, this is going to be my first post here. I am working far away from my home country (not too far compared to some, only 4.5 hour flight), and you have said the grammar is not essential for communication, but the vocabulary is what we need. You are correct, as usually teachers are. But I feel 5 a day is too much for a working person to deal with. But nothing is impossible if there is will. It looks simple, but little hard when we are going to do that. I think I know little grammar, but problem comes when I am speaking. I know I am speaking wrong grammar, but I can’t resist it. Is this a common problem or is that because I am shy of speaking wrong English. Anyway, you look nice, and your family too, son is great. Will try to hang on with these lessons though time is limited. bye
Cordially welcome Amy, I am looking forward to your wonderful entries. Ana Paula has told evryone she met on Facebook that you are back to be the BBCLE Teacher Blogger. See you around, James
Learn five new words a day. I like this method. Although it is difficult for me I try my best to do it.
Hi Amy. I think it is a good idea learn 5 new words a day. However it will be a challenge for me, because I have a bad memory. Sometimes I find some word on the dictionary in the morning and I forget it in the afternoon. But I'll do my best for do it. It would be great if I could. Regards. Nice to meet you.
very nice,good way to buid up vocabulary.and I will try it in my learning of German
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