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2024年11月19日
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[图片]A good joke can make people laugh. Connecting with people by sharing jokes and humor is a wonderful approach. However, not everyone can understand certain English jokes. So, they won't know the humor behind the story. Jokes are said in certain ways and you must be familiar with the style of language to understand the meaning of the jokes. Understanding jokes is a bit different than grasping any other form of English. You need to change the way you think about something. Also, timing is very important in-jokes. If it's not said at the right moment, its effect is entirely lost. Also, you need to tell jokes in an interesting way by including pauses and variations of tone. Jokes are humor must be audience-appropriate. Saying the wrong type of joke to the wrong group may change the 'humor' element to a negative experience. Some jokes cannot be translated for a cross-cultural audience. For instance, the 'knock-knock' jokes in the USA. People of many cultures won't understand it. Jokes can be culture-oriented. So, you should know what type of joke is inappropriate for a certain culture. You can modify a certain joke to fit the audience.

Jokes that can help you learn English

"The shovel was a ground-breaking invention, but everyone was blown away by the leaf blower." This joke is about innovation and human progress. The word 'groundbreaking' has a double meaning. First of all, it means breaking up the ground, which is exactly what a shovel does. However, in the figurative sense 'groundbreaking' means innovation. The shovel seems like a simple tool, but it actually had a great impact on human civilization. Because before its invention, people had to use their hands to dig the earth. It was a very laborious and slow process. Because of the invention of the shovel, this task became easier and quicker. So, people can now plant crops and build houses more comfortably. "I used to be afraid of hurdles, but I got over it." This joke is an example of figurative language. It indicates that fearing obstacles create a mental barrier that prevents potential success. You need to face the fear to come up with a solution. You learn a new word 'hurdle' in this joke. "Sleeping comes so naturally to me, I could do it with my eyes closed." This joke means that the person can sleep very easily without struggling. The idiom 'I could do it with my eyes closed' is used to describe how easily something is done if you have done it many times. But on the other hand, we all sleep with our eyes closed anyway. "Did you hear about the kidnapping at school? It's okay. He woke up." The first punch line is said to wake up someone who was taking a nap. When we fall asleep, often we don't wake up even after people call our names. But we get their attention when they say something startling like 'kidnapping in school'. "I've decided to sell my Hoover… it was just collecting dust." The work a hoover does is collect dust. So, it's an ironic remark that the person thinks the machine is not doing other work. Pun is used to make the words funny. "The wedding was so emotional that even the cake was in tiers." Notice the word 'tiers' which means layers sounds similar to 'tears' which means to cry. So, you learn homophones in this joke. "Why are teddy bears never hungry? They are always stuffed!" Here, the word 'stuffed' means the teddy bear is filled with soft materials. But when you are hungry, you also stuff yourself with food. "She's an archaeologist. Her career, therefore, is in ruins." This is such a smart joke that uses the figurative meaning of the word 'ruins', that is, failure. Archeologists study the ruins of buildings and structures. So, The future of these professionals of course lies in the 'ruins'; that is, exploring the past. [图片]

Key elements of British humor

Wit and wordplay British humor includes double meanings and clever wordplay. It uses puns to make people laugh. Dry and dead delivery These jokes are delivered with an emotionless face which makes them sound funnier. The trick of these jokes is to catch the audience off-guard and eventually make them laugh recalling what they have just heard. Irony and sarcasm These two words are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Irony is a figure of speech that tells the opposite of what is said. Sarcasm is a type of irony that is aimed at a person with the objective to criticize. These two aspects of language are used in a very clever and subtle way in English jokes. Observational comedy These jokes or humorous moments are taken from normal daily events. The absurd nature of the event is highlighted to make them look hilarious. In learning English, humor can be educational and enjoyable. English jokes, especially, help to improve English language skills. Using learning devices like sarcasm, irony, wordplay, and double meaning, you can communicate better. American jokes are more explicit; which may be considered inappropriate sometimes. A good joke can help to form connections with others. You can read funny books, listen to humorous podcasts, or watch comedy shows to improve your language skills including idiomatic expressions and vocabulary. You will learn about English culture through jokes. Your English language learning experience need not be boring if you add humor to it.
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[图片]Learning English is not easy; it takes a lot of time to learn the grammar, spelling, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of the language. The learning journey is a very enriching experience, indeed. You don't want to forget something you have learned easily. So, you must use an effective method to learn a language. Exploring English through folktales and stories is such a way. Folktales carry values, historical insights, and moral lessons that have been passed down through different generations. These tales are very engaging and provide a different perspective to understand a language.

Reasons folktales and stories are effective

The traditional folktales are packed with idiomatic expressions and rich vocabulary. The people back in those days used different phrases and words to express their thoughts which you won't find in modern books. Idiomatic expressions tell a lot about the culture of a place. So, by listening to folktales and stories or reading about them you can expand your vocabulary and learn many idioms that you can later use in your writing or speech. For example, in the folktale "Jack and the Beanstalk", you will come across words like 'beanstalk' and 'golden goose' that you won't find in the modern vocabulary.

Understanding culture

Folktales represent the cultures from which they originated. When you read these interesting stories, you learn many things about that culture, including its values, norms, and traditions. So, when you read English folktales and stories, you know about the English culture in a much better way than reading other books. Many stories teach moral lessons that are part of the English culture. For example, the folktale "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is about how important it is to be honest all the time and avoid lying. If you lie there will be difficult consequences.

Engaging and memorable

You will notice that when you memorize a list of words or phrases, you tend to forget them easily. But when these words are put into an engaging and narrative structure with interesting storylines, characters, and moral lessons, you will remember them easily. Folktales have a repetitive nature that also helps in the retention process. [图片]

Tips for learning English using folktales and stories

Simply reading any folktale to learn English won't help. You need to apply some techniques to learn the language effectively. Here are some tips that may be helpful.

Choose the right folktales

Not all folktales are rich in vocabulary and provide good moral lessons. So, choose the well-known folktales to begin with. As you become more familiar with these stories, you can read lesser-known stories. You can teach your children good English by telling them stories such as "Cinderella" or "Little Red Riding Hood." These stories have been passed on from generation to generation and still remain popular. Your children will be very interested to hear them and in the process, they will learn new words and moral lessons.

Use multiple formats

You must become attached to folktales in various formats. You should not only read books but also listen to storytelling and watch movies adapted from these stories. This will provide you with a 360-degree learning experience which will turn out to be very effective. Now you will find many online resources like audiobooks and podcasts that can give you a more enriching English language learning experience.

Analyze structure

If you are reading folktales for the purpose of learning the English language, then you should do more than just know the story. You must analyze the sentence structure, use of verbs, and style of writing. This way you will understand the grammatical aspect of English. For example, you can break down a passage from the story and identify the different parts of speech, adjectives, and other things.

Practice storytelling

You won't recall what you have learned from folktales unless you share the stories with others repetitively. By practicing storytelling, you can improve your English-speaking skills. You can pair up with a friend to practice storytelling.

Make use of visual aids

You must use visual aids to recall folktales. You can use illustrations, mind maps, or storyboards to remember vocabulary, grammatical structure, plot, and characters of the story. In the storyboard, you can highlight the important characters and events.

Think of the moral lessons

Try to relate the moral lessons you have learned from folktales with your personal experience with the English culture. You can make use of folktales better by using these techniques. By applying these you can retain the new things you have learned for a long time.

Examples of folktales effective for learning English

Not all folktales are interesting and beneficial in learning English. If your objective is to learn English effectively, then here are some suggestions about stories you must read.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

It is a popular German folktale that has been adapted into English. The famous story is about a piper who helps a town to get rid of rat infestation. However, the townsmen didn't pay him for the service he provided. So, in retaliation, he takes away the children of the town with his enchanting piper tune. In this story, you will come across various verb tenses, idiomatic expressions, and descriptive language.

The Gingerbread Man

It is an English folktale about a gingerbread man. He comes to life but runs away from different pursuers. By reading this story you can practice repetitive verbs and phrases. You will also learn new words related to animals and food.

The Fisherman and His Wife

It is also a German folktale adapted to English and other languages. The story is of a fisherman who catches a magical fish. The astonishing thing about the fish is that it can grant any wish. The fisherman's wife got greedy and asked for more which led to their downfall. You will come across complex sentence structures related to nature. You will learn what consequences can happen if you are greedy.

Beauty and the Beast

It is a famous French folktale that has been adapted into English. It's about a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a beast. But the beast is actually a prince who has been under a curse for many years. The story is about love and sacrifice. You will see the use of dialogue and descriptive language in this story. If you want to teach English effectively then incorporate storytelling sessions. Here the learners will know about language from different perspectives. Their English learning journey will be enjoyable and fruitful.
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[图片]You must have learned about proverbs in your English grammar class in school. These are traditional sayings specific to a country. They are written in a short and wise form with an internal deep meaning that is a form of advice. English proverbs are often used by the native English speakers in their conversations. These sayings are passed on from generation and you just say it without even realizing it. Proverbs tell about the culture of a country and the values of the people living there. You can illustrate a point using a proverb. They are often symbolic or metaphorical in nature and so are different from the regular speech. People have been using proverbs from the early years. You will be surprised to know that the earliest recorded proverbs go back 2000 BCE, during the time of the ancient Sumerians. The scientists have discovered about 1000 proverbs written by the Sumerians.

Proverbs vs. idioms

Many people get confused with the use of proverbs and idioms. Both are short and challenging to extract meaning from. However, they are distinctively different. Idioms are phrases and frequently used in poetry. Proverbs, on the other hand, are advice. It is a common practice to include a few proverbs in creative writing to make it more interesting. You can include proverbs in essays. You may use proverbs as prompts of a story too. Read a number of writings where proverbs are used and learn how to incorporate them in different forms of writing. But before you can use proverbs in your writing, you must know their meaning. [图片]Here are the most popular English proverbs and their meanings. 1. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Meaning: Children is likely to be like their parents in terms of appearance and behavior. 2. "A picture is worth a thousand words." Meaning: Image can convey meanings in a better way than words can describe. 3. "All that glitters is not gold." Meaning: Something that appears true or valuable may not be so. 4. Beggars can't be choosers. Meaning: People who depend on the generosity of others for their basic needs should be happy with what is offered to them. They don't have the right to choose something. 5. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Meaning: If you eat healthy food like an apple every day, you will be healthy and won't fall easily. So, it won't be necessary to call a doctor for a checkup or diagnosis. 6. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Meaning: What you already have in hand is better than what you might get as you are unsure whether you will finally get it. 7. "Better safe than sorry." Meaning: It is better to take necessary precautions than to regret the consequences later on. 8 "Blood is thicker than water." Meaning: Relationships between family members are the strongest of all kinds of relationships. 9. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Meaning: Don't make plans depending on events that haven't happened. 10. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Meaning: When you visit a new place, embrace the local ways of life without judging anything. 11. "Every cloud has a silver lining." Meaning: No matter what difficult situation you are in, you must always look at the positive side of it. 12. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Meaning: To achieve a long-term goal, you must take the first step. 13. "Two wrongs don't make a right." Meaning: Someone's wrongful conduct is not a justification for acting in a similar way. 14. "The pen is mightier than the sword." Meaning: Written words are more powerful than actions or weapons. 15. "Necessity is the mother of invention." Meaning: When you really need something, you should think of a way to make it happen. 16/ "Birds of a feather flock together." Meaning: People have the tendency to stick together with other like-minded people. 17. "Rome wasn't built in a day." Meaning: Important or big works don't happen within a short time. It takes time. 18. "Time waits for no one." Meaning: Don't delay taking decisions or action, as we have no control over the passage of time. 19. "When there's smoke, there's fire." Meaning: If there are indications that something is true, it usually is. 20. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Meaning: If something works well, don't try to change it. 21. "Too many cooks spoil the broth." Meaning: Too many people working on the same project can lead to a negative result. 22. "You can't have your cake and eat it too." Meaning: It's impossible to satisfy two opposite desires. 23. "Out of sight, out of mind." Meaning: When you lose sight of anything, you will eventually forget about it. 24. "All is well that ends well." Meaning: Everything is acceptable if the ending is favorable. 25. "Two heads are better than one." Meaning: Two people can do a better job together than a person doing the job alone. 26. "Look before you leap." Meaning: Always be careful before doing something important. 27. "Robbing Peter to save Paul." Meaning: When somebody harms one person to cause some benefit to another person. 28. "Out of the frying pan and into the fire." Meaning: Coming out of one difficult situation and getting into another one. 29. "Better late than never ." Meaning: "It is better to delay something than not doing it at all." 30. "Every dog has his day." Meaning: Every person can have lucky days and better outcomes. 31. "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket." Meaning: Don't throw all your resources into achieving a single goal. 32. "Easy come easy go." Meaning: Something that comes easily goes also easily. 33. "Fortune favors the bold." Meaning: Those who are courageous to take risks are more successful than those who always do things with caution. 34. "God helps those who help themselves." Meaning: If you make an effort to make things a reality then you will get results instead of just sitting around and hoping for the best. 35. "Good things come to those who wait." Meaning: Good things will happen to you if you are patient. People use English proverbs in writing and speech to establish morals, give advice, share knowledge, console others, or release personal tension. If you want to illustrate a specific point then use a proverb. There are hundreds of proverbs that people have been using over and over again. You just need to pick the right one for your context to make your sentence meaningful.
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[图片]Culture shapes a person's personality. It is the way people live in a society. Culture includes behavior, dress code, beliefs, and other things. Though the English language is universal, culture can influence its use. English is spoken in many countries around the world. With cultural diversity, the use of English has also changed. The way slang, sentence structure, and idiomatic expressions are used showcase from which cultural context English has evolved. There are some unspoken rules in the use of English in different cultures and the native speakers understand it inherently.

Classroom dynamics

In some cultures, students see the teachers as the main authority. They may not be used to open discussions or topics or sharing of thoughts. This affects classroom interactions and eventually, the results obtained by the students in exams. In Western classrooms, you will find that open discussions are encouraged. The students must practice critical thinking.

Perceptions of mistakes or errors

Many people make mistakes and try to correct them. Some cultures view making errors in front of others as a symbol of failure. But in other cultures, it is considered to be normal. So, when a student is learning English in a classroom, he or she may hesitate to answer questions asked by the teacher thinking that fellow classmates may laugh if the student doesn't give the proper answer to the question. This affects English learning as talking in English most of the time and using new vocabulary in sentences can help to develop English language skills.

Relevance in language learning materials

If the teachers include culturally relevant information and examples in the English learning materials, then the students will be able to learn better. As English is not their first language, the students will feel motivated to hear their mother tongue.

Intercultural experiences

In a classroom, if the students get the chance to interact with native speakers then they will have more opportunities to learn better. They will know about the applications of English learning.

Adapting to different English dialects

The English language will pick up different dialects in different cultures. Adopting those can help to communicate in English with local people. Not everyone in a culture will be able to speak just like the people in English-speaking countries.

Cross-cultural empathy and conflict resolution

Empathy plays an important role in learning English. It will help you to see things from different perspectives. Conflict resolution occurs due to differences in expectations and norms. [图片]

Use of vocabulary

Culture plays a vital role in the meaning of some words. For example, the sentence, "Dressed in white, the girl approaches in tears." In Western culture, it is assumed that the girl will get married soon and the tears are due to the joy she is feeling. But in the Chinese culture, it may mean that the girl is mourning the death of her loved one. You will find many words in English that are borrowed from other cultures. These words, called the 'loanwords' have improved the English language by expanding its vocabulary.

Culture affects the meanings of words

Culture may define if the meaning of a word is positive or negative. For example, the word 'jealous' in Greek means 'to be in a warm state' which gives a positive meaning. But in the Swedish culture, the same word has a negative connotation; it means illness. The slang words that people use reflect cultural trends. Sometimes, its syntax can reflect cultural beliefs. Teachers should include films, magazines, and other learning materials when teaching the English language. If the children are introduced to the English language in an environment, they learn the second language comfortably. If the teachers can give examples from real-life scenarios, the brain will be able to hold the information longer.

Language structure

It is affected by cultural values and norms. For example, a culture may have different language structures to show politeness.

Traditions and rituals

These are embedded in the language usage. In different cultures, unique greetings are used during festivals. Language evolves parallelly with culture. Changes in society, like technological and political change influence the making of new words and phrases. Due to technological innovations, cultural gaps in the English learning process are reduced. New words are also introduced. The students can connect with native speakers online on various platforms. Culture has a huge impact on English language learning. This poses opportunities as well as challenges. It is necessary to find the right approach to integrate cultural understanding with language learning skills.
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[图片]The English-speaking countries have a number of common holidays that they celebrate. These events bring friends and families together and let them have a good time. Many of them take the opportunity to travel abroad with family. The roads are decorated with lights and other decorative items. The shops offer massive discounts. You will notice a festive environment everywhere. Here are the holidays that are worth mentioning.

Christmas Day

Christmas is celebrated in all English-speaking countries. Though it's a religious occasion of the Christians, it has now become a global celebration irrespective of religion. It takes place on 25th December every year marking the birth of Jesus Christ. People decorate Xmas trees and put gifts underneath the tree. The children are told that Santa Claus has given them gifts. On 24th December, that is Christmas Eve, families have dinner together. On the morning of Christmas, people open their gifts. Some of them go to the church. Friends come over and have dinner together.

Easter Sunday

This day is observed on the first Sunday after the spring's first full moon. It is a religious celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. On this day people visit the churches and children look out for bunnies and chocolate eggs. People have a fun-filled holiday on this day.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the USA and Canada. It takes place on the fourth Thursday of November every year. The colonists in Canada and New England used to celebrate Thanksgiving by praying for military victories, safe travels, and good harvests. The first Thanksgiving was known to be held by the Americans on a 1621 harvest feast. The day before Thanksgiving people visit their families to spend time together. Families prepare turkey for a big meal. In some families, each member brings food to the table. So, there's a huge feast. Beautiful parades take place on this day. You will see marching bands and balloons on the streets. Football games are broadcast on TV.

Black Friday

The history of Black Friday is quite interesting. It used to be the day after Thanksgiving. The workers used to call in sick on this day to get a long weekend. Another story is that crowds used to flood the city of Philadelphia after Thanksgiving day to watch the Army-Navy football game and do shopping at huge discounts. This caused traffic gridlock and trouble for the police, so they called it Black Friday. In the USA it also marks the start of the shopping season for Christmas.

Halloween

Halloween was first celebrated in Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. It originates from the Celtic culture. People decorate home yards with pumpkins carved into jack-o'-lanterns. People believe that these can bring the spirits of their dead relatives and protect their homes from bad spirits. Children go from home to home in their neighborhood to collect chocolates. They dress up in various horror or comic characters to scare those who don't give them chocolates. It is a fun event for people of all ages. Nowadays, the adults also dress up in Halloween costumes and have a great time.

All Saints´Day

This day is celebrated in the USA, UK, Canada and Ireland. It is the day after Halloween, that is, November 1. The day is celebrated by the Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican churches. The day is observed to pay respect to all the saints in Christian history. Many Catholics visit tombstones to pay respect to their deceased relatives. They decorate the graves with candles and flowers.

Saint Patrick's Day

The people of Northern Ireland mainly celebrate this day. It takes place on the 17th of March every year. The British people wear costumes symbolizing St. Patrick and participate in parades. The pubs serve traditional drinks. People go to concerts and festivals in their local area. [图片]

Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night)

This day is celebrated in Great Britain to remember the day of the 1605 Gunpower Plot. On this day Guy Fawkes tried to destroy the British Parliament along with his associates. Bonfires and fireworks take place in most parts of England. Some families prepare traditional dishes on this day.

May Day

This day was first celebrated in the USA in 1886. It is observed to mark the struggle of working 8 hours a day. On this day that year, many workers went on strike for shorter working hours and a better working environment. It is a national holiday in many countries including the USA. It takes place on 1st May every year.

St. Andrews Day

The Scottish people observe the day to remember their patron saint – St. Andrew. On this day, people celebrate Scottish culture, food and music.

Anzac Day

This event takes place on April 25 every year. It is a National Day of Remembrance for the people of Australia and the New Zealand Army Corps who fought in Turkey during World War I. It is to mark the contribution of those who have fought for the country. The events just discussed are celebrated in most English-speaking countries. People take the opportunity to be with the family. As most of the occasions are declared to be national holidays, people spend leisure and fun time with their family and friends. Food, music, and parades are common elements of these celebrations. In most of these days, you can buy something for your loved ones.
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[图片]The British are very polished when it comes to etiquette. Rules often govern their everyday life, but they don't mind. As they had a strong connection to various social classes, several rules of etiquette had evolved over the years. These were meant to make their lives classier.

Reserved attitude

They are more reserved than the Americans. They don't become too friendly when they first meet you. They maintain their spaces.

Don't ask personal questions

They also don't ask any personal questions like weight, age, relationship status, or salary.

Punctuality

Punctuality is very important in British culture. You will be considered to be rude to keep someone waiting. So, they are never late for any business or medical appointments or social events, like weddings. So, if you giving an interview at a British company, or visiting a doctor in England then you must arrive at the venue 5 to 10 minutes early to minimize the risk of being late. However, arriving too early at a social gathering is also considered to be rude as the host will be preparing to welcome the guests.

Giving gifts

At a British dinner party, it is expected for the guest to bring a gift for the host. It can be a bouquet of flowers, wine, or chocolate. When giving gifts to someone, leave the price tag so that the person knows how much you have spent on the gift. This act is a way of telling them how much to spend when they give you a gift.

Table manners

You must use cutlery to eat food at a lunch or dinner party. Using hands will be considered to be inappropriate. You must take the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left. You must point the prongs downwards and push the food backward with the knife. You shouldn't start eating once your food is served. You should wait for others to be served. It's polite to start eating after your host. To get an item on the table, don't reach over someone's plate; instead, ask that person to pass over the dish to you. While eating, you shouldn't keep your elbows leading on the table. It is considered rude to make any sound while eating. Actions like slurping, yawning, or talking with food in the mouth are very inappropriate in British culture. You must keep electronic devices like phones away when you are having dinner.

Basic social manners

• The British love politeness when speaking to someone. So, say 'thank you' and 'please' whenever possible, even for minor favors like passing on your drink or giving you the changes after buying something from the shop. • If you are walking in a non-crowded place and you see someone coming then smile and greet that person. • You shouldn't turn up at someone's home without informing them in advance unless that person is a close family member or friend. • Whenever you enter someone's house, take your shoes off and compliment their home. • Don't spend time with your smartphone when you visit someone; engage in some kind of conversation. • After dinner or lunch, clean the table and offer to do the dishes when you visit someone. • Don't overstay at someone's place as you know that the person won't be able to go to bed unless you leave. • It is considered a good manner to stand when a person enters the room or holds the door open for a lady. [图片]

Queuing

It's a joy to watch the British people standing in a queue. They will maintain a neat and orderly queue when waiting to get into a venue or to board public transport. It is considered to be an offense to break a queue.

Apologies

Just as often they say 'please' and 'thank you', they also apologize without any hesitation for their mistakes. They will also apologize even if it is not their fault. Don't be surprised to see more than one person apologize for an incident.

Complaints

It is an irony that even after being such a polite citizen they enjoy complaining about different things. They will find ways to complain about little things like weather, grocery prices, and other things. They will complain openly if they are not satisfied with the product or service they bought.

Use of slang

Despite being polite, the British use slang in their language often. They use terms like 'cheeky', 'cuppa', 'cheers, etc. which are not proper English terms.

Tipping

Tipping the waiter, taxi driver, or anyone giving you service is a common practice in Britain. When you are dining in a restaurant, check your bill. If it doesn't include the service charge then you can give a tip equivalent to 10% of your bill or any amount you desire.

Greetings and meetings

When you meet someone in a formal or informal setting you should greet that person with a firm handshake, a smile, and direct eye contact. Double-cheek kiss is only appropriate for the close ones. As the British are very polite, you won't notice them insulting anyone very often. They don't point out someone's flaws. They don't comment on how fat or slim they are. British etiquette and manner are a blend of tradition and consideration of others. There are good things to learn from their culture as many other cultures lack them. It is a good thing to be nice to people and learn the proper manners from a young age. That way a person can comfortably carry out the proper etiquette in any environment. You must not forget that your etiquette and manner say a lot about your family and teachings. So, always try to maintain socially accepted behavior and kindness when you are around people.
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[图片]People in both the US and UK speak English. However, you will be surprised to see how different their English-speaking cultures are. They differ in style, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, humor, accent, etc. The history of this language is quite interesting. When the first settlers came from England to America, they brought the common language called rhotic speech. But in the wealthy cities of the UK in the south, the higher-class people wanted to feel different than the others and they started changing the rhotic speech to a much soft 'r' sound, like 'winter' as 'wint-tuh' and not 'win-terr'. This new speech was called 'received pronunciation' and everyone in the south of England started copying it. You will notice that people outside the south of England still use rhotic pronunciation. Those who live in London use the posh English. British English is heavily influenced by French. You will notice French-style spelling and words in British English. The spelling and choice of words in the UK and US dictionaries are different.

US vs UK English in terms of linguistics

The US and UK English differ in vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and grammar. Here are some differences that you must know.

Vocabulary

US English UK English
apartment flat
attorney solicitor
college university
candy sweets
cookie biscuit
elevator lift
gas petrol
parking lot car park
truck lorry
trunk boot
French fries chips
Cotton candy candyfloss
Garbage rubbish
Pants Trousers
Hood bonnet
Vacation holiday
Sweater jumper
Sneakers trainers
Mailbox postbox
Drugstore chemist
Soda fizzy drink
Store shop

Spelling

• Past tense words that end with T in UK English usually end with an 'ed' in US English; eg. 'burnt' in UK English and 'burned' in US English. • Words that end with 'ence' in UK English end with 'ense' in US English; eg. 'defence' in the UK and 'defense' in US English. • Words with 'ise' in UK English are 'ize' in US English; eg. 'organise' in the UK and 'organize' in US English. • Words with 'ou' in UK English are spelled 'o' in US English; eg. 'colour' in the UK is 'color' in US English. • Words with 'our' in UK English, like 'flavour' is spelled 'or' in US English, like 'flavor'. • Words with 'yse' in UK English, like 'analyse' spelled as 'yze' in US English, like 'analyze'. • In UK English, 'travel' or 'cancel' becomes 'travelling' or 'cancelling'. In the US English, they become 'traveling' or 'canceling'; that is, one 'l' instead of two. • In UK English 're' is used in 'centre' and 'fibre'. In US English they are spelled as 'center' and 'fiber'. • In UK English 'ogue' is used instead of 'og'; eg. 'dialogue' in UK English becomes 'dialog' in US English. [图片]

Grammar

Collective nouns: In UK English collective nouns can be either singular or plural in a sentence. That is both the sentences "The family is going…." and "The family are going…" are correct. But in US English, collective nouns are always singular. Prepositions: At/on - I went there at the weekend. (UK) - I went there on the weekend. (US) To/through - I work Monday to Friday. (UK) - I work Monday through. (US) To/than - My situation is different from yours. (UK) - My situation is different than yours. (US) Verb In UK English, you can use both 'have' and 'take' with nouns such as 'holiday' or 'shower'. For example, "I'm going to take a shower or have a shower." In the US English only 'take' is used with these nouns. Present perfect To talk about something that happened in the recent past with an effect on the present, the present perfect tense is used in UK English. But in the US English, simple past tense is used. Eg. 'I have lost my car, can you please help?' (UK) 'I lost my car, can you please help?' (US) Dates In the UK, dates are written in 'day/month/year' format. But in the US, it's written in the 'month/day/year' format. Offers or suggestions In UK English 'shall' is used and 'can' is used. Example: 'Shall I get you something?' (UK) 'Can I get you something?' (US) Future plans In UK English 'shall' is used for referring to future plans and in US English 'will' is used instead. Example: 'I shall be available at 8 o'clock.' (UK) 'I will be available at 8 o'clock.' (US)

Pronunciation

Consonant sounds The /r/ sound In UK English, if 'r' comes after a vowel in the exact syllable then 'r' is not pronounced; eg. 'far', 'market', etc. In US English 'r' is pronounced strongly in this case. The /t/ sound In US English, when 't' comes before a weak vowel and after a stressed vowel, it changes to a blend of 't' and 'd'; eg. 'butter' or 'water'. In UK English, these sound like the normal 't' sound. /ɒ/ vs. /ɑ/ In UK English, words like "dog," and "pot" are pronounced with the /ɒ/ sound. It is pronounced with a slightly rounded mouth. In US English, the /ɑ/ (the short "o") sound.

US vs UK English in terms of communication style

The way US and UK English speakers talk is different. Here we will talk about some of the differences.

Direct or indirect

The Americans are very expressive. They are direct in communication. But the British people say things indirectly as if there's hidden meaning in them. For example, if your boss says that your idea is 'interesting', then in US English it will really be 'interesting' but in UK English it will mean 'not good'.

Body language

In both communication styles, personal space matters. The Americans made more eye contact and stronger handshakes than the Brits.

Humor

The Brits use sarcasm in humor. They find humor in as serious a topic as 'death' also. They also show no emotion when telling jokes.

Owning mistakes

The Americans own mistakes. You will hear many companies talk openly about their failure and what they learned from it. But the British consider mistakes as 'shame'.

Social interaction

The Americans are very friendly and open, even with strangers. The British people, on the other hand, are more reserved, especially in initial interaction. You must listen carefully to both British and American English to know the differences. Try reading a book written by a British author and compare it with one written by an American author. You will also notice the language difference when you watch a British movie vs a Hollywood movie.
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[图片]You will find English-medium institutions in almost every country. Why is it necessary to study in an English-medium institution when you can do things in your local language? The main reason is that businesses and jobs are no longer limited to the local area. People can now do jobs or study remotely. So, they can be staying in Argentina, for example, and doing a job for a company located in England. To communicate with the client, you need to learn English. People also prefer going for higher studies in English-speaking countries. So, if you are good at English, you will be in an advantageous position. Most professional books are written in English, like engineering, law, or medical books. If the teachers conduct the classes in English then it will be easy for the students to understand the subject better. By giving lectures in English, the teachers also help the students to improve their English speaking skills.

Benefits of English in the education sector

The governments of many countries have endorsed English as part of basic education. If you know English, you will be able to connect to people all over the world. It will result in social mobility. Here are some benefits of English in the teaching and education sector.

Learn other languages easily

English helps to learn other languages more comfortably. If children can learn English at an early age then it will be easier for them to learn other languages. The grammar and syntax they learn help them to grasp new languages quickly.

Improve reading

The best books and magazines are published in English. Even most blogs that you find online are written in English. You can get exposure to a lot of reading materials when you know English. It is very difficult to build vocabulary. By practicing reading, you can make your vocabulary stronger. You will come across many new words and learn their uses in various contexts.

Improve critical thinking skills

Learning English requires a lot of critical thinking. So children can improve their analytical ability by learning English. They can even break down complex words to find their meaning.

Boost writing skill

In your professional life, you will have to write many content including email, marketing material, brochure content, business agreement, and others. You will know how to use the right words in each type of content. You will be able to write reports and articles smoothly.

Digital communication

People now rely on digital communication for personal and professional reasons. It is now easy to stay in touch with family members and friends using social media platforms, email, or apps like WhatsApp. Not many people know how to type in their native language. So, if you know English you can easily type your message and share your feelings. In the professional field also, you can communicate through email and other apps. So, English is essential for digital communication in business.

For travel

If you want to study abroad or go on a business trip, you need to know English. In planes, hotels, and restaurants, English is the most spoken language. You even have to talk to the tour operators in English. If you want to ask directions in a foreign country you must do so in English.

Medical needs

Most medical terms used widely are in English. So, if you have studied Science in English then you will understand the basic medical conditions that the doctors talk about. You can also communicate with doctors in another country and decide on a better treatment option.

Enjoy movies and songs

English movies are popular in the entire world So, by knowing English from school you can enjoy watching some of the best movies. You can also enjoy listening to your favorite singers and understand the lyrics.

Higher education and research

For higher education, you need to know good English. Most books are in English and your advisor will most likely communicate with you in English. If you want to study in Englishspeaking countries, then you will need to demonstrate your English speaking, listening, and writing abilities by scoring well in different exams such as TOEFL or IELTS. [图片]

Things teacher teaches you in English class

You learn grammar and new words in English so that you can express your thoughts easily when preparing reports or writing blogs. Here are the things the English teachers teach you. Synonyms/antonyms Phrases and Expressions Linking words Parts of speech Pronouns Articles Modal Comparative/superlative words Active and passive voice Direct and Indirect Speech Conditionals Simile Metaphor Personification Alliteration Idioms All these are important parts of English grammar. If you know how to use them in sentences, you will be able to craft wonderful writing pieces. You must enrich your vocabulary by learning a few new words every day. You should communicate with others in English to develop your speaking skills. Participating in debates and other competitions will help to improve your English skills and make you confident. Attend meetings and seminars to see how good speakers talk in English and learn from them. Having English in the teaching and education sector benefits everyone. It also creates new scopes for the teachers to boost their teaching career. Nowadays, you will notice teachers conducting online classes or videos that are seen by viewers throughout the world. This wasn't possible if the teacher didn't give a lecture in English. In the education sector, English plays a vital role in shaping young people's lives.
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In marketing, content is everything today. Businesses can flourish by adopting content marketing. A marketing or sales representative is responsible for providing product and service information to customers. They are also responsible for answering company-related questions. There professionals must use persuasive language to convince others that the company products or services are better than that of the competitors. [图片]

Use of English in marketing

Good English content is necessary for company brochures, social media platforms, websites, and marketing materials like print or web advertisements. Marketing materials are short and clean. The content should communicate the best features and make the company stand apart from others in the market. Marketing professionals use English for communicating via different channels like social media, SMS, or email. The presence of a website is vital for any organization today. You can sell products or services through an e-commerce site as well. All the contents of the website should be in English. The marketing professionals often provide promotional messages within the website. These messages must be very persuasive and informative.

Common English terms used in marketing and advertising

Here are some common terms that are used in marketing and advertising. Customer/client: Someone who buys a product or service. Logo: a symbol that represents the brand and helps to identify a brand quickly. Slogan: A short statement for promoting the brand. Branding: The way a brand is presented to prospective customers. It includes the colors, fonts, and other things. Brand loyalty: Customers prefer the brand over others and purchase items consistently. Loyal customers are those who stick to the brand all the time. B2B: "Business to Business" sales. B2C: "Business to Consumer" sales. Persona: A fictional character created by marketers to reflect the interests, income, education levels, and spending habits of customers. Ad campaign: A series of related advertisements on a certain theme shown over a limited period. Ad targeting: showing personally relevant ads to individuals as they surf the web or use social media. It uses algorithms to learn about a person's web browsing history and online spending habits. Keywords: Internet search terms. Long-tail keywords: Specific internet search terms longer than three words. Content marketing: Using informative and educational content to develop brand authority. Social media marketing: The promotion of companies, products, or services via social media platforms through customer interaction and engagement. SERPs: The Search Engine Results Pages where a list of websites appear when someone searches information on Google or other search engines. SEO: Search Engine Optimization uses tools like relevant keywords and links to other web pages to increase the likelihood that a website will be shown on the first page of the SERPs. This increases the chance that more people will be visiting the website. PPC: Pay-per-click, a type of interactive online advertising that charges advertisers a small fee when an internet user clicks on a PPC ad. Mailing list: Collections of email addresses from people interested in various topics. A/B testing: Trying out two different versions of an advertisement or email campaign to find out which one is better. Prospect: A potential customer or client. Customer base: A group of customers who regularly buy from the business. Convert: To persuade a prospective customer to buy a product or service. Customer acquisition cost: The average fund required by a company to attract a potential customer and convert them into a paying customer. Cold call: A phone call from a salesperson to a random potential customer who has expressed no previous interest in the brand's products or services. Warm call: A phone call from a salesperson to someone they have already contacted. Lead: A potential customer suggested to the salesperson by another sales professional. Purchase order: A written agreement between a buyer and a seller detailing the type of good, price, and other details. Close: To finalize a deal or a sale. Raw materials: The items needed for manufacturing finished goods. Finished products: Goods after manufacturing that are ready to be sold. Retail: Products sold in small quantities in shops with a high profit margin. Wholesale: Products sold in bulk for a lower price. Landed cost: The full price for bringing a finished product to market. Profit margin: The amount of money a company makes from a sale. Inventory: The supply of finished products available for purchase. Product development: The process of creating products for prospective buyers. Target audience: The people for whom a product was developed. Feedback: Information about a product or service's positive qualities and areas for improvement. Focus group: A set of people in the target audience who agree to give feedback about a product or an ad campaign. Market research: Carefully examining the spending habits of consumers, along with the practices of industry competitors, to create effective business strategies. Benchmarking: Using industry standards to compare the design, quality, and pricing of products or services. Market share: The percentage of sales controlled by a company. Undercutting: Offering goods or services to customers at a significantly lower price than the competition. Market leader: A successful business in a particular industry that is performing better than the competitors. [图片]

Techniques for improving English

For any marketing or sales professional being fluent in English is necessary for a successful career. It will help them to work in the international market. The marketing field is continuously changing. With technological advancement, new marketing strategies are in place. So, as a marketing professional, you must always learn the new marketing and sales terms used in international business. To improve your English, you must enhance your vocabulary. There is nothing better than reading lots of books. You can join professional networks to improve your English. Various online language tools are available to help you learn better English.
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[图片]The customer service professionals are the frontline of your company. They will save your company from any attacks from the clients. They will improve your brand image and showcase you as the best in your field. It is not an easy task to be a customer service professional. As they are the first line of defense for the company, they have to be well-prepared to face any situation. Strong communication skills are essential to be a good customer service professional. Most businesses now have English-speaking clients. Even some native people prefer communicating in English. So, there is no way you can escape learning good English to be good at your role of being a customer service representative. No matter which industry you work for, the skills needed to handle customer queries are similar. However, you need to have industry-specific knowledge to deal with customer inquiries. To be a good customer service representative you must know everything about the company you are working for. You should have the desire to help others. You must also have the patience to handle difficult customers properly. As a customer service representative, you must learn how to communicate in different ways, like direct messaging, phone calls, or emails. Here are some examples of common phrases that customer service professionals should be aware of. 1. Thank you for your inquiry. How may I help you today? 2. I understand your concern and I'm here to help. 3. I apologize for any inconvenience caused. Let me help you. 5. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will investigate and get back to you soon. 2. I apologize for any inconvenience caused. Let me find a solution for you. 6. Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you. 7. I'm sorry for the delay in response. We are working on addressing your query. 9. Thank you for your feedback. We value your suggestion and our authority will consider it. 10. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.

Importance of English in customer service

Customer service representatives must be good in English. They must understand the customers' queries and answer properly so that the customers are satisfied. The customers must be able to communicate with the customers regarding any issue they are facing and expect good behavior and assistance from them. As a customer representative, you should know how to answer queries politely and intelligently. There will be situations when you might not know the right information. In such cases, you must tactically hide your weakness or flaw of the company, yet provide the customer with suitable assistance. You should not go about the bush; instead, provide a straightforward solution to customer problems. If you can't give what the customer wants, be truthful and say no politely. A customer service agent must maintain professionalism at all times. Some customers can be very aggressive and they must be handled properly. You, as a customer service professional, shouldn't use any slang or inappropriate language with the customers as it will hurt the company's image. Being well-versed in English gives the benefit of being efficient at work. The representative can understand queries quickly and offer solutions without any delay. Customer satisfaction depends a lot on good customer service. A satisfied customer will buy from you again and will promote your brand to others. Your customer base will increase and eventually, the business will expand. [图片]

English for call center

The concept of a call center is now popular throughout the world. Many companies outsource their customer service to a foreign company to save money and time. So, many customer service representatives are not native English speakers. They need to be highly proficient in English to understand the needs of native speakers and offer them solutions. For a successful call center experience, you need three things: empathy, patience, and clarity. You should empathize with the customer making them realize that you can understand their situation. You must be patient in listening to customer queries and tolerate adverse behavior. You must take time to understand customer problems. As a call center representative, you must be prepared for adverse situations. You might get into a disagreement with the customers regarding certain issues. You can abruptly make the caller angry for some reason. You may also come across an impolite customer. You should apply all the language tactics to calm down the callers and offer them help. To improve your English skills, you can listen to podcasts. You can join different customer service training programs where you will not only learn English but also proper body language to deal with customers every day. You can practice call center scripts or role-play being a customer representative with a friend. You will find lots of online materials like blogs to help you learn the latest trends in customer service. You can also join conferences and seminars of customer service professionals to strengthen your English communication skills. Customer service professionals must be familiar with some common phrases used in their profession. Knowing these phrases will help you to offer assistance, express gratitude, or help in decision-making. Remember that you must be polite at all times and maintain a professional tone when speaking or writing to customers. The clients or customers must feel confident about their dealings with the company after communicating with you. This way you are not only providing excellent customer service but also boosting your brand image.
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