Most towns in America--even the small towns--have a local public library, or have an agreement with another town to use their library.
In America, we value learning, we value intelligence--we strongly think of ourselves as a merit based society and in some ways--although not all ways--we are, perhaps more so than other places. In America, you don't need to be the scion of a wealthy family or have aristocratic roots to rise to the top.
So America has libraries, funded with startup funds from wealthy philanthropists--the Carnegie-Mellons, the Rockefellers, the Getty family and others. Right up until this day--many small town libraries in America use computers that came courtesy of the Gates Foundation. Libraries are an American tradition.
However, what you may not be used to is that in America, if you live in the town and can prove you do with a driver's license or ID or some other form of proof of address--usually they will accept a utility bill for instance--then the library is generally free for you to use--you pay nothing except a tiny fee if you check out a book and return it late.
Libraries in the modern American age are kind of community centers, but they still absolutely lend books. Some libraries have special collections--for instance, my small town library for many years had a special collection on the topic of baseball--and they lend DVDs. Furthermore, if you don't have internet service at home, typically the library will.
If you get stuck on how to find something or you need a book not in the library's collection, ask the librarians--that's what they're there for. Likewise if you are looking for a specific fact or statistic and don't know who to ask--and its not the sort of thing you could reliably Google--librarians are trained at library science, which involves the organization and cataloguing of human knowledge and information. They live for those kinds of questions.
To find the library where you live, simply Google "[your town name]" and the words "public library" together without quotes and see what comes up. To check out books and use the facilities to their fullest extent you'll need a library card but not usually to sit and read--often libraries have a selection of local and national newspapers and magazines.
(the magazines they stock are what their user base wants--as determined by empirical data, which is why not all libraries stock all the same magazines.)
All right? For answers about libraries and other issues in American culture or corporate culture or to book me for an English as a Second Language or accent reduction lesson, give me a call at (732) 807-5424 or hit me up on Skype at david.berlin.esl or check out my American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed or check out David Berlin ESL's Accent Reduction Training website. Okay? Okay.
'Til next time...
SEE YA!
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
American Intonation
In accent reduction, or when learning or training in a new accent, intonation refers to the rising and falling in musical pitch of the voice. So if you've noticed, Americans speak with a rising pitch at the end of certain kinds of questions, and a falling, walking-down-the-steps intonation when we make a declarative statement.
This video explains the simple basics of American-style vocal intonation when speaking. This is very, very important to Americans because intonation helps Americans understand what is really being said apart from simple content.
This is different from, for instance, the Chinese system of vocal intonation/pitch, in which pitch changes in a word change the *definition*, the *content* of the word. In America, pitch changes change what is *indicated*--what is said indirectly or "said without saying".
Its also different, for instance, from the Indian/Hindi/subcontinent way of speaking--and in fact one of the greatest difficulties Americans have understanding subcontinent speakers is incorrect stresses and a completely unrecognizable (to Americans) pattern of intonation. When I have an Indian student--whether he or she is a Malayalam speaker, a Kannada speaker, a Tamil speaker, Gujarathi speaker or Telugu--whatever subcontinent language the person speaks natively--the very first thing I work on with them for a month or two is American style intonation because that makes the biggest change.
Anyhow. Here is a video explaining in simple terms some parts of American intonation.
All right? All right. I hope you like that video, and remember, if you'd like to talk to me about lessons, about taking ESL or accent reduction lessons, if you'd like some training in making American style "small talk"--which is the seemingly unimportant (actually very important) social talk Americans make throughout the day--or American culture or corporate culture, you can give me a call at (732) 807-5424 or hit me up on Skype at david.berlin.esl is my Skype ID OR check out my David Berlin's ESL and Accent Reduction Training website or my American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed or my David Berlin ESL YouTube channel with plenty of instructional videos and tips and tricks to improve your American accent.
Slots are opening up for the fall!
Okay? Okay. hit me up! Would love to hear from you!
Saturday, July 13, 2019
For
This video gives a good explanation of the -er vs the -ier ending for comparative adjectives. Essentially, the -er ending modifies an adjective and makes it more so. If you are a Spanish speaker the -er ending is the same or equivalent of the modifier mas.
So for instance, hot in Spanish is caliente. To make it even more so, you say mas caliente. Translated literally, that would be "more hot". But a better way to do this in American English is to add the -er ending and simply say hott-er
Example usage: "Today is hott-er than yesterday."
However! When the adjective ends in a -y then to make it more so we DROP the -y ending and add -ier.
Example: This piece of jewelry is heav-ier than that one, so it costs more.
Okay? Check out the video for some good detail and exercises.
So for instance, hot in Spanish is caliente. To make it even more so, you say mas caliente. Translated literally, that would be "more hot". But a better way to do this in American English is to add the -er ending and simply say hott-er
Example usage: "Today is hott-er than yesterday."
However! When the adjective ends in a -y then to make it more so we DROP the -y ending and add -ier.
Example: This piece of jewelry is heav-ier than that one, so it costs more.
Okay? Check out the video for some good detail and exercises.
For further information, or if you are interested in one on one,private ESL or accent reduction lessons, give me a call at (732) 807-5424 or give me a buzz if you are international on Skype at david.berlin.esl which is my Skype ID.
Or check out my David Berlin's ESL and Accent Reduction Training website or subscribe to the American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed for some American idioms and examples of usage you can use in your everyday speech. OKAY? Okay! Call today!
Thursday, July 11, 2019
I DO VS I DON'T
Here is a really great video on DO vs DON'T and DID vs DIDN'T. Essentially, DON'T is short for DO NOT. When you combine the two words and eliminate the O and add a ' -- an "apostrophe" (pronounced uh POS struh FEE) you get what is called in American English a "contraction".
American use contractions ALL THE TIME, almost exclusively instead of saying DO NOT we say DON'T, instead of saying WOULD NOT we say WOULDN'T. Instead of saying "COULD HAVE" we say COULD'VE.
There is a great List of Common Contractions here.
But this video doesn't focus so much on the issue of contractions. Instead, the goal of this video is to help you understand the difference between positive and negative statements of doing (do vs don't) and done (did vs didn't).
Check it out!
American use contractions ALL THE TIME, almost exclusively instead of saying DO NOT we say DON'T, instead of saying WOULD NOT we say WOULDN'T. Instead of saying "COULD HAVE" we say COULD'VE.
There is a great List of Common Contractions here.
But this video doesn't focus so much on the issue of contractions. Instead, the goal of this video is to help you understand the difference between positive and negative statements of doing (do vs don't) and done (did vs didn't).
Check it out!
All right? All right. And remember, if you are interested in English as a Second Language Lessons or accent reduction lessons--private, one on one lessons--you can check out my webpage at David Berlin's ESL and Accent Reduction Training. Or, if you are interested in learning some great (and useful!) American slang terms and idioms, check out The American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed.
Or you can give me a call on Skype at david.berlin.esl which is my Skype ID or you can call me or text me on the phone at 732-807-5424.
all right? all right. next time!
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Barbecuing and the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July is this country's Independence Day--the day that the original thirteen American colonies declared that they were "free and Independent" from the British Crown--that we were a new country, "conceived in liberty" and no longer under the rule of George the Third--or any other monarch--nor part of the British Empire.
As expected, this didn't go over too well in England and they promptly sent a retinue--several retinues actually, a whole bunch of 'em--of British soldiers to remonstrate with us. However, they quickly learned what we ourselves have not yet learned--you cannot beat an enemy engaged in guerrilla warfare on its own territory.
(they didn't really learn the lesson either. Nobody seems to have, yet.)
In any case, five years later we signed a peace agreement that essentially granted America its independence from Great Britain. At that point, the people who declared independence thought we ought to have some sort of founding document or set of overarching laws or legal principles that would distinguish us from other nations.
So, for instance they came up with the idea that you cannot be put in gaol for criticizing a politician. Politicians used to love to cut opposition off at the knees by throwing their critics in prison and at times executing them. The framers of the American Constitution decided that that was unacceptable.
The American Constitution also guarantees the freedom of the press--reporters cannot be jailed for printing things that American politicians don't like or don't want to hear.
The American Constitution also allows us the free exercise of religion--that whatever religion you are, as long as you aren't hurting anyone, you have the right to engage in religious practice as you please. (or not, if you please.)
Mind you, these were all concepts that were new-ish in the world at that time. Or if not "new" per se (they were derived from the Greek democracy of classical Antiquity and the Roman Republic and other sources) they had fallen out of favor with humanity for a long, long time. The framers of the Constitution felt that America was a kind of "experiment"--they set it in motion and let it go.
July 4th means many different things to many different people in America, but to Americans it is a kind of microcosm of America. That's why we barbecue. We get together with our neighbors and our communities, because in the end America *is* the small towns and the neighbors and all of us. And while we all have our own feelings about things, beer, grilled chicken, steak, Italian sausage and things like that, hot on the grill, tend to evoke feelings of conviviality and togetherness. Neighborliness if you will. How can we be Americans if we do not know our neighbors? How could we have *become* an independent nation if we hadn't known our neighbors?
if you are not from here, or if you are a New American, and you are invited to a barbecue--if you can eat meat and are not vegetarian, you want to go with a dish like biryani or something similar--hot, spicy, and kind of heavy. If you are vegetarian--try fried, spiced chickpeas or naan and a yogurt dip. If you are Polish or German, go with Bratwurst. If you are Russian, a bottle of cold vodka would not be out of line unless you know that the people around you are not drinkers. If Japanese, you cannot go wrong with a six pack of delicious, cold Sapporo beer. If Chinese, make homemade egg rolls if you know how.
But aren't these not American foods? "American food" is a mishmash--a combination of the cuisines of a thousand different nations through time--all the people who have come here, passed through here, made friends here and been neighbors here.
All right? All right. Happy Fourth! Oh--the fireworks. Kids may like them but the crowds are big and the noise is loud. They may not be like fireworks you've experienced in your native land, and in New Jersey anything heavier than sparklers are not legal. But other things are legal in other states. Check the laws in your state to see what is legal and what is not regarding fireworks.
All right? All right. And remember if you are interested in American Idioms and American slang, check out my American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed. For information about ESL and accent reduction lessons, either by Skype or in person, take a look at David Berlin's ESL and Accent Reduction Training website. For more tricks and tips (FREE!) on ESL and accent reduction, check out my David Berlin ESL YouTube Channel. All right? All right! Happy 4th of July!
As expected, this didn't go over too well in England and they promptly sent a retinue--several retinues actually, a whole bunch of 'em--of British soldiers to remonstrate with us. However, they quickly learned what we ourselves have not yet learned--you cannot beat an enemy engaged in guerrilla warfare on its own territory.
(they didn't really learn the lesson either. Nobody seems to have, yet.)
In any case, five years later we signed a peace agreement that essentially granted America its independence from Great Britain. At that point, the people who declared independence thought we ought to have some sort of founding document or set of overarching laws or legal principles that would distinguish us from other nations.
So, for instance they came up with the idea that you cannot be put in gaol for criticizing a politician. Politicians used to love to cut opposition off at the knees by throwing their critics in prison and at times executing them. The framers of the American Constitution decided that that was unacceptable.
The American Constitution also guarantees the freedom of the press--reporters cannot be jailed for printing things that American politicians don't like or don't want to hear.
The American Constitution also allows us the free exercise of religion--that whatever religion you are, as long as you aren't hurting anyone, you have the right to engage in religious practice as you please. (or not, if you please.)
Mind you, these were all concepts that were new-ish in the world at that time. Or if not "new" per se (they were derived from the Greek democracy of classical Antiquity and the Roman Republic and other sources) they had fallen out of favor with humanity for a long, long time. The framers of the Constitution felt that America was a kind of "experiment"--they set it in motion and let it go.
July 4th means many different things to many different people in America, but to Americans it is a kind of microcosm of America. That's why we barbecue. We get together with our neighbors and our communities, because in the end America *is* the small towns and the neighbors and all of us. And while we all have our own feelings about things, beer, grilled chicken, steak, Italian sausage and things like that, hot on the grill, tend to evoke feelings of conviviality and togetherness. Neighborliness if you will. How can we be Americans if we do not know our neighbors? How could we have *become* an independent nation if we hadn't known our neighbors?
if you are not from here, or if you are a New American, and you are invited to a barbecue--if you can eat meat and are not vegetarian, you want to go with a dish like biryani or something similar--hot, spicy, and kind of heavy. If you are vegetarian--try fried, spiced chickpeas or naan and a yogurt dip. If you are Polish or German, go with Bratwurst. If you are Russian, a bottle of cold vodka would not be out of line unless you know that the people around you are not drinkers. If Japanese, you cannot go wrong with a six pack of delicious, cold Sapporo beer. If Chinese, make homemade egg rolls if you know how.
But aren't these not American foods? "American food" is a mishmash--a combination of the cuisines of a thousand different nations through time--all the people who have come here, passed through here, made friends here and been neighbors here.
All right? All right. Happy Fourth! Oh--the fireworks. Kids may like them but the crowds are big and the noise is loud. They may not be like fireworks you've experienced in your native land, and in New Jersey anything heavier than sparklers are not legal. But other things are legal in other states. Check the laws in your state to see what is legal and what is not regarding fireworks.
All right? All right. And remember if you are interested in American Idioms and American slang, check out my American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed. For information about ESL and accent reduction lessons, either by Skype or in person, take a look at David Berlin's ESL and Accent Reduction Training website. For more tricks and tips (FREE!) on ESL and accent reduction, check out my David Berlin ESL YouTube Channel. All right? All right! Happy 4th of July!
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
AN AMERICAN IDIOM FOR THE LATE SPRING
I live in New Jersey, and New Jersey in the Spring means the spring rains. In America, we have an expression: "The calm before the storm."
"The calm before the storm" refers to that sense of eerie, otherworldly quiet and stillness before the wind begins to howl and the heavens open up. In business it refers to a brief calm period before things get complicated, active and/or difficult.
For example:
Joe: "We haven't had much new business since the Vermont people found another vendor..."
Bill: "its the calm before the storm. There is a Korean conglomerate that wants us to work with another vendor to get something out by September. If we can pull it off..."
Joe: "if we can pull it off,we're in the pink."
OH! That leads us to another American idiom. "In the pink." The idiom "in the pink" means in good health or strong and vital. In the conversation between Joe and Bill, Joe is saying that if they can get the job done (the idiom "pull it off" means "get it done") their company will be "in the pink"--in good vital health.
All right? now you've got three idioms for the price of one (FREE!) But seriously speaking, why not give me a call at (732) 807-5424 if you are interested in ESL/accent reduction lessons--I will work in person anywhere in NJ or Manhattan and via Skype (or any other videoconferencing software you want to use) from anywhere else in the world. I have worked with Chinese in China, Turkish folks in Turkey, Taiwanese folks in Taiwan, Russian folks in Moscow--all kinds of folks everywhere.
My Skype ID is david.berlin.esl so you can reach me that way if you like.
Or, for more tips on American idioms and accent reduction, check out my American Accent Reduction and ESL Training YouTube Channel. Or, check out my American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed.
American English and Accent Reduction Training website for details on what I do and how I do it.
All right? All right!
Next time...
All right? All right.
"The calm before the storm" refers to that sense of eerie, otherworldly quiet and stillness before the wind begins to howl and the heavens open up. In business it refers to a brief calm period before things get complicated, active and/or difficult.
For example:
Joe: "We haven't had much new business since the Vermont people found another vendor..."
Bill: "its the calm before the storm. There is a Korean conglomerate that wants us to work with another vendor to get something out by September. If we can pull it off..."
Joe: "if we can pull it off,we're in the pink."
OH! That leads us to another American idiom. "In the pink." The idiom "in the pink" means in good health or strong and vital. In the conversation between Joe and Bill, Joe is saying that if they can get the job done (the idiom "pull it off" means "get it done") their company will be "in the pink"--in good vital health.
All right? now you've got three idioms for the price of one (FREE!) But seriously speaking, why not give me a call at (732) 807-5424 if you are interested in ESL/accent reduction lessons--I will work in person anywhere in NJ or Manhattan and via Skype (or any other videoconferencing software you want to use) from anywhere else in the world. I have worked with Chinese in China, Turkish folks in Turkey, Taiwanese folks in Taiwan, Russian folks in Moscow--all kinds of folks everywhere.
My Skype ID is david.berlin.esl so you can reach me that way if you like.
Or, for more tips on American idioms and accent reduction, check out my American Accent Reduction and ESL Training YouTube Channel. Or, check out my American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed.
American English and Accent Reduction Training website for details on what I do and how I do it.
All right? All right!
Next time...
All right? All right.
Monday, June 17, 2019
SUMMER IS STARTING!
Well, summer is starting. I am working in New York on Saturdays, so if anyone can use my services in Manhattan on Saturday, I'm happy to meet with you.
Here is a video that better explains how to make the /l/ sound. This is a bit different from the usual method, but you may find it helpful if you've really had trouble with the sound.
Here is a video that better explains how to make the /l/ sound. This is a bit different from the usual method, but you may find it helpful if you've really had trouble with the sound.
Here's another video with some /l/ word drills. Chinese, Korean, and Japanese students often have difficulty with the /l/ sound and differentiating between the /l/ sound and the /r/ sound. My understanding is that this has to do with these languages not really having these sounds as distinct and separate sounds. In American English, the /l/ and the /r/ sound are very distinct separate sounds.
All right? Check these videos out and let me know in the comments if you like them and remember, if you are interested in ESL or accent reduction lessons, or need help making American style small talk, or you just want to become more confident speaking American English, or need help with American cultural issues and misunderstandings, give me a call at (732) 807-5424 or check out the David Berlin's ESL and Accent Reduction Training website or my American Idiom of the Day Twitter Feed or you can email me re: lessons at this email link. Or check out my David Berlin ESL YouTube Channel.
All right? All right. Hope to hear from some of you over the summer! if you have been putting off lessons, now's the time! Call or email today!
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