by Heather Chetwynd | Sep 27, 2021 | Language Training
Most cities have their landmarks. In Toronto, we have one that was sold after the death of its owner, Ed Mirvish. A poor immigrant to Toronto in the 1920s, he built a discount store in 1948 that catered to immigrants and the working class, delighting passersby with...
by Heather Chetwynd | Jun 2, 2021 | Language Training
Only 3000 words make up 86% of the language we commonly use in speaking and writing (Longman Communication 3000). Most intermediate English-speakers already have this vocabulary; they also have learned the common grammatical structures (of which there are dozens.)...
by Heather Chetwynd | Jan 29, 2021 | Culture and Values
I am often asked, “Is that ‘correct’ English?” It is not a simple question to answer. I have thought about this often but recently I was reminded of it again as I listened to the audio version of Between the World and Me. Written and read by Ta-Nehisi Coates, the book...
by Heather Chetwynd | Apr 9, 2015 | Language Training
What is a grammar peeve? When we are ‘peeved’ about something, it means something really bothers or irritates us. We talk about ‘pet peeves’ which are things which really bother us in particular – it may be our spouse not putting the lid...
by Heather Chetwynd | Dec 17, 2014 | Language Training
In Canadian written English, it is important to learn how to be concise. This is a quality of well-written, refined writing and speaking, although it is not as important in casual speech. Being concise involves using specific vocabulary which more clearly states what...
