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 Recommendation of 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 Recommendation of 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...
by Recommendation of Heather Chetwynd | Dec 2, 2014 | Language Training
It can be difficult sometimes to identify what is and what isn’t an error in English, even for native speakers. And I can only imagine the difficulties faced by people who grew up speaking another language. I have observed that, sometimes, what was considered an...
by Heather Chetwynd | Nov 5, 2014 | Accent Modification
You CAN learn to speak clearly and be better understood when you speak English. Do you have difficulties understanding and/or being understood? The ability to participate comfortably in a conversation depends upon language and context. Understanding the culture, being...