Idiom of the Day

Idiom of the Day 

Next to nothing 

Example: People usually eat fast food because the price is usually next to nothing.

Definition: almost nothing; small amount 

ESL Vocabulary (Juneteenth in Miami)

ESL Vocabulary (Juneteenth in Miami) 

Commemorate- celebrate an event, person, or a situation by doing  or building something

Abolition - the action of abolishing or ending a system, practice or institution

Discerning - having or showing good judgement

Interpreting - understand an action, mood, or way of behaving as having a particular meaning or significance

Cosmetic- treatment intended to restore or improve a person's appearance

Holistic- type of philosophy or thinking that takes into account everything or the whole factors

Insecurities- uncertainty or anxiety about oneself; lack of confidence

Apropos - very appropriate to a particular situation

ESL Conversation Questions: Risks

ESL Conversation Questions

1. Would life be boring without risks?

2. Are risk takers more successful?

3. What's the biggest risk you've taken?

4. What risks are there in  normal daily life?

5. What risks have you taken that have gone wrong?

6. What are the risks of not taking risks?

Juneteenth in Miami

Juneteenth is a day celebrated by Americans and in particular the African American community. This day commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the United States. This day is considered a state holiday in  45 states and is observed primarily in local celebrations. 

The institution of slavery,  which brought Africans against their will to America, destroyed families and abused millions of human beings, lasted for 246 years in the United States. However, a year after the official end of slavery, there was a large celebration organized by African Americans in Texas, which is now considered Juneteenth. 

Today, many African Americans flourish and make extremely beneficial contributions to the American economy. Whether it be in entertainment with the likes of Lebron James or in politics with Barack Obama, the African American community is strong and continuing to grow. In celebration of the growth and strength of the African American community I went to a Juneteenth celebration in Miami. 

Many of the Juneteenth celebrations around the United States have marching bands that play music that was popular in the slavery era. Tunes such as Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Down By the Riverside and Wade in the Water were sung throughout many plantations and gave African American slaves hope for a better future. 

However at the Juneteenth celebration I went to, called Pure Life Festival, the music was very hip and in vogue. The majority of the music performers were rappers, but there were some female rhythms and blues (RnB) singers as well. My favorite performance was the duo act of rappers BloodSoPure and The Dawn with their psychedelic song Srii Yantra. This song is about being conscious, discerning corruption and interpreting spiritual energy. 

The music was the main attraction at the Pure Life Festival, but there were also vendors that contributed to the event. The type of products being sold varied from deodorant to jewelry to even cosmetic materials. The company that caught my attention the most was named DopeNaturals. All of their hygienic products were handmade and ranged from soap bars , deodorants, body oils and so much more. 

The entrepreneur and co- founder of the company, Shanita Walker, explained to me the benefits of using a holistic and vegan approach to skincare. The primary benefit of vegan skincare is protection against UV damage. The less chemical compounds the better, because the more  natural ingredients there are the healthier it is for human use. Also she told me that natural hygienic products can have anti-aging benefits due to ingredients such as soy and green tea. 

 People at the event were doing  dances such as the robot, twerk and freestyle. The disregard of insecurities and judgement of other people created a very special atmosphere. These actions were very apropos of celebrating Juneteenth which is all about  African Americans breaking not only the physical chains of slavery, but the mental chains as well. 

One very physical performance that highlighted the freedom of movement was yoga. Two young yoga enthusiasts got on stage and performed different yoga techniques such as double tree, savasana,  and flying warrior. After their display of flexibility, the man of the duo explained the benefits of yoga. This physical discipline can increase flexibility, maintain a balanced metabolism, improve respiration and so much more. Yoga is great as an individual activity, but also can bring people together as a community. 
  

ESL Conversation Questions: Daydreams

ESL Conversation Questions

1. What are daydreams?

2. Do you sometimes daydream while working?

3. Are daydreams important?

4. Do you have any eureka moments while daydreaming?

5. Do you have the same daydream again and again?

Idiom of the Day

Idiom of the Day

Out of the Blue 

Example: She didn't expect her videos to do so well,  the success she's gotten from her Youtube channel has come out of the blue.

Definition: without warning; unexpectedly

Living and Teaching English Abroad: Interview with Marc

Teaching English as a second language is a very fun and exciting job. The opportunity to help people accomplish their goals through learning another language is very satisfying. Even though there are some potential challenges along the way such as homesickness, language barriers and culture shock that prevent some instructors from taking that leap of faith to teach abroad. Fortunately I've been able to know and watch certain teachers via social media travel and live their best life. Marc Cedric Quashie has been one of those teachers that has motivated me to continue to pursue my dreams of teaching abroad.

Thank you so much for doing this interview. Can you explain your background a little bit. Like where are you from? Where did you study? Etc. 

I was born in Haiti and I went to school in Florida for 14 years.

How did you get your start in teaching English as a second language? 

I started looking into teaching English after becoming unsatisfied with my previous line of work while living abroad. After quitting my job as a representative at a call center, I found an advertisement in the paper that read" Tired of working at a call center, wanna make more money, have no experience? Apply now and get trained".

 So after answering yes to all of the above I decided to send my resume in and was called in for an interview. After a successful interview, I was equipped and able to start teaching in classes after 6 weeks of training at the Academia Europea.

Having taught online and in a classroom which setting do you prefer? 

Having taught online and in a classroom I would have to say that I prefer teaching online. Teaching in a classroom is great and I think that all ESL teachers should experience it.

But teaching online is much more convenient and most times pays much better. The greatest convenience for me is that I am able to travel around the world by working on weekdays and traveling on weekends.

In your experience, what’s the best way for students to improve their English skills? 

In my experience, the best way for students to improve their English skills is to not take any breaks. There isn't a secret to learning a language but there are many successful methods and after finding what works for you, just make sure to do it every day, 7 days a week.

 Of all the countries that you have taught in so far which country has been your favorite?

Of all the countries that I have taught in so far, my favorite country has to be Cambodia. Because the weather is similar to that of my home country and so I can enjoy the sun while swimming in the pool any time I feel the urge to.

 What have been some of the challenges of living abroad?

Some of the challenges of living abroad for me personally is visas and strong internet. As a Haitian national my passport isn't as powerful as other passports like an American one, so I am heavily limited to where I can go and how long I can stay.

And when it comes to wifi, I always have to choose an accommodation that is a bit on the expensive side just to ensure that I will not have any wifi issues like power outages or weak signals.

What advice would you give to aspiring ESL teachers who want to live and work in a foreign country?

The advice I would give to aspiring ESL teachers who want to live and work in a foreign country is, do enormous amounts of research into your desired destination so that you'll be prepared for any surprises life throws at you during your journey. And trust me THERE WILL BE SURPRISES.

 What career endeavors are you looking forward to pursuing ?

Right now I've been to 7 countries and I plan on going to at least a dozen more. When I finally return to my home country I want to open a Container School where I will show kids how to obtain a cheap and possibly free education with and without the internet.

If you want to contact Marc for English lessons you can find him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcquashie