Posts filed under 'Culture'
Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Grammar: an Eternal Battle
Rutgers English professor Jack Lynch has a new book out titled The Lexicographer’s Dilemma, which you can purchase online from Elliott Bay Book Company, and Salon.com has this great review. The book focuses on the seemingly ceaseless duel between language “purists” (prescriptive grammarians) and linguistic pragmatists (descriptive grammarians) who understand that change in language is not only inevitable, but necessary to keep up with all of life’s other changes. (more…)
Add comment November 2, 2009
Halloween is here!
Saturday is Halloween, and people around the United States and indeed the world will celebrate by carving jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, donning costumes, and trick-or-treating. Here, the celebrating has already begun. Few cultures embrace Halloween as heartily as that of the U.S., and A.C.E. students in Seattle and Bozeman always have a good time our annual Halloween parties. This past Sunday, a group of A.C.E. students visited a local corn maze and pumpkin patch (see picture). Such a cultural phenomenon provides great material for English teachers and students, and so here we share a few great online resources. Have a Happy Halloween!
Here is a great matching game to learn Halloween vocab.
Now, test your newly acquired Halloween vocab with this short quiz.
This site has a bevy of Halloween related readings and lesson plans specially designed for English language learners.
Add comment October 29, 2009
“Is ‘English Mania’ Good or Bad?”
From Jay Walker’s talk: “English is the world’s second language. Your native language is your life, but with English you can be part of a wider conversation—a global conversation about global problems, like climate change or poverty, or hunger or disease. The world has other universal languages: mathematics is the language of science; music is the language of emotions. And now English is becoming the language of problem solving, not because America is pushing it, but because the world is pulling it. […] English represents hope for a better future, a future where the world has a common language to solve its common problems.”
English Mania is a good thing, so long as first languages are preserved and used.
Add comment October 9, 2009
A Ramadan Review
Ramadan is more than halfway over this year. The Islamic month of fasting began around August 22nd, and will end on or around September 20th. The exact dates may vary from place to place, as they are dependent on visibility of the hilal–the waxing crescent moon after a full moon. Muslims observe this period by fasting between sunrise and sunset, asking forgiveness for past sins, praying for guidance, and practicing good deeds. Ramadan was the month in which the Prophet Mohammad received the first verses of the Qur’an more than 1,400 years ago.
Ramadan takes on various cultural shades as it is practiced around the world. To glimpse this diversity and learn more about Ramadan around the world, follow the links below.
Add comment September 9, 2009
An A.C.E. Program Trainee Tours Seattle by Bike
One of the Korean trainees from the Gangwon program at A.C.E. this summer has written about her experience in Seattle on her bike. It’s nice to see Seattle through the eyes of a visitor.
Knocked the Door and It was Opened to Me !!!
By Namgung Eunmi at GILI–I remember what I said before I left Korea for Seattle. I said “I will do my best for improving and enjoying my life while I am staying Seattle” I am sure, I did do my best for everything in Seattle. Especially, I was trying to be sincere for every moment because, I believe that every single step make a long journey. In addition, a moment in now is connected with right before the moment and it will be connected with right after a moment. That is the reason why I had to be sincere for a moment in now. There were many things I did my best for, but it is very difficult to introduce them all to you, so I’d like to tell you just one thing it was what I like to do most while I was staying in Seattle. Riding a bike! It can be the best way to enjoy Seattle and to make friends. Of course, it depends on you. Read the whole story…
Add comment September 2, 2009
