Bill the English Teacher

Tanya December 3, 2009 11:07

Sorry! I have forgotten! Will you check my idiomatic text on the Blog "Phrasal verbs", please? I posted it yesterday. I like that experience and I will be very thankful!
Tanya December 3, 2009 10:48

Dear Bill! You are so kind! Thanks for your great explanations and your good attitude! Well, I feel so good that there are other people who share my ideas about teaching. I know, I have to explain. You see, in my country (I mean both Ukraine and Russia) university teachers of my level, with advanced degrees and great teaching experience, mostly think that asking questions humiliates them. What a crazy poin of view! I don't mean language teachers only. Any science is developing and changing and one should practice to be up-to-date. Many of the people I mean don't practice any longer and they are still sure they know everything! As long as I ask questions I feel like being an outcast among them! I am sure you will agree with me if I say that we, teachers, are the most responsible for what we do. We have to be absolutely sure in what we teach. Otherwise, we will get non-professional doctors, engineers, teachers who will teach the next generations. As a result, we will fall into decay. Unfortnately, my country has great experience in getting rid of "the brains". What a pity! Our nation is very talanted, hardworking and smart! However, it must not be smart enough to realize its own mistakes and to make appropriate conclusions! I have lived through the best part of my life, I travelled a lot and I have to admit that the only one place where I felt comfortable was American university. There were people who accepted and estimated my ideas. I am really greatful for that great experience! I am proud to feel half-American, so to say, and I am really proud to have such an adviser like you are! Thanks for everything! And my best wishes to you and your lovely grandaughter! How good a family should be to adopt a child! I am childless, So, I feel a little jealous in the good sence of the word!
Have a nice day! And all the best!
Tanya December 2, 2009 9:47

Dear Bill! Thank you very much for the explanations. In fact, I do know everything you've written. Sure, I know how to use Subjunctive and articles otherwise I wouldn't be called a teacher. I also know that English, especially American, tends to simplification. It would be strange if I weren't aware of that. You see, it was really strange when another English teacher started arguing both Subjunctive and article in this sentence. So, I decided to ask you to put all dots above "i"s.
However, I have got two more questions as a result of what you have wriiten:

1. If not to use Subjunctive, then how to show that this is untrue? It is so easy to use it instead of explaining that it is unteal.

2. Does Subjunctive (its use in the clause) depend on the kind of the verb (I mean whether it describes an action or state)? I have never heard anything like that! I have spent a half of my life analyzing English grammar and I know it much better that Russian. So, will you tell me about that, please? You know, I teach people and I want to be 100% sure in what I do.
Poppy December 2, 2009 6:17

ESP stands for English for Specific Purpose.
For example English in Nursing, Medicine, engineering, etc. English in this area need to be taught with the related technical terms.
Tanya December 1, 2009 13:41

Dear Bill! My congratulations! Your granddaughter is so cute! What a sweet baby!
Tanya December 1, 2009 13:15

Dear Bill!Will you answer to one more question, please? Here is the sentence:

My brush looks as if it has a soul.

My questions are:

1. Should we use Subjunctive Past in this sentence? I would use it, because it is unreal. However, another teacher thinks we souldn't because it is not an action. I have always thought it is of no matter if it is an action or state. The main is that it is unreal and contradicts reality. Will you make it clear for me, please?

2. Can we use an article "a" before "soul"?

Thank you in advance. How great it is that we can find out the answers to our questions without calling America thanks to such people like you!
Zahra November 30, 2009 21:10

Thank you for your teachers :) happy day
milagros November 30, 2009 13:20

Hi Bill, you’re right. Nobody has result if you don’t work hard. Thanks you so much ,I was reading your interesting and important topic that you treat a subject and you’re very clear. Your arguments are a treasure for me and I’ll treat to put in practise it....
Agus Syaefulloh November 30, 2009 3:34

Hi..Bill, nice to meet u too. I have been studiying engllish since at junior high school, but till now my english is bad. can u tell me tips on how to improve my english conversation skill.

Thanks
Zahra November 28, 2009 18:33

Nice to know about your cute granddaughter ...May God gift her with so much prosperity and joy next to her kind family ...

And about the game ;thanks a lot dear teacher for your contribution ...
Have a nice and memorable time :)