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Posted by shashi on April 30, 2006
1. Contents studied from Linguist Library:
2. Non-linguist contents:
3. Books
Posted in Shashi's reading report, The Linguist | Leave a Comment »
Posted by shashi on April 24, 2006
It is past midnight and I am sitting at my computer, trying to concentrate on my studying. However, I do not feel comfortable. There is a disturbing tranquillity in the atmosphere. There are grumbling noises coming out of the computer; otherwise, everything is quiet. This extreme calmness disturbs me. It echoes in my ears and causes my heartbeat to increase. Now my heart is beating very fast and there is excruciating pain, which has forced me to keep my fist on my chest. I am trying to hold myself, but I feel that certainly there is something inside my chest that is pricking me. Hey!! Who the hell are you? What are you trying to do? I scold it, but it keeps going on and now I can't bear it anymore.
I find a crack on my chest as if you find on ground in droughts. It's very tiny but I can make it out. It is exactly on my heart area. I am surprised why the blood is not oozing out man!! Hey, this crack is getting wider and wider and deeper. What's going on!!!!!! The pain is getting more intolerable. I am feeling as if someone trying to pierce my chest with blunt knife. "Hey stop! I can't bear it anymore." I yell. But it doesn't stop and keep going on. A gush of blood comes out and spreads on my chest. Two tiny hands with little fingers try to hold my skin. With its little foots, it comes out and sits calmly on my chest. I am looking at it surprisingly; its stranger who has come out from my body. "Who are you?" I ask 
politely. Still it is smiling and staring at my eyes. " Who am I? Can't you recognise me? I am your heart. Your lovable and only heart." " But why are out? I will die if you stay outside." " You will die if I stay outside? How mean you are!! You are thinking of yourself. Have you ever thought how I am living inside? I am living alone inside that cage, working 24 hours and 12 months without any break and without any expectation. Don't you think that I should get some break? Hey man! Now I am on holiday and I will enjoy my outside stay. Cheers!!!!!"
Posted in Interesting reads, My Diary | Leave a Comment »
Posted by shashi on April 23, 2006
In India, most of the students study in local language schools where English is second language as compared to convent school where English is the first language. Most of the students don't concern about English till they get admission to high school or college. It is the time when they actually expose to English. At school level, English is usually third language subject and students study English only through some grammar rules and vocabulary. They are mostly encouraged to write some essays and to answer some questions. Though these are English classes, they are usually conducted by English teacher who has limited knowledge about speaking English. These teachers, nevertheless, have good knowledge of English grammar. They speak in local language and teach grammar usually and ask to complete some grammar tasks. Despite studying English for five to six years at school, student doesn't get any opportunity to speak in English and never encouraged to speak in English.
When such students enter in college, they are usually very worried and depressed about their English. At college level all subjects are taught in English and all lectures are conducted in English only. Now they try to concentrate only on academic words and try to imitate them. They usually don't get any problem understanding the subject and clearly pass the exams despite lack of sufficient English knowledge. I have found some students who ranked top in English but they couldn't speak in English. After completion of college study, students get admission for university degrees. At the university, education is again in English. If you are majoring in English then you might get sufficient knowledge about speaking English. At least you will try to speak in English. If you are majoring in some other subjects then there will be no any progress in your English proficiency.
When student actually come in real world, then he realise that he can't speak in English even though he had studied English for eight to ten years. Then he gets frustrate and at this stage he actually try to learn English. Now he focuses on his speaking ability and tries to improve it.
What students do to improve their English? What are the sources available in India if someone wants to improve English communication skills? Are there sufficient classes and sources available for students to learn English?
Keep reading "prospective of learning English in India."
Posted in English Language, Interesting reads, My Diary | 2 Comments »
Posted by shashi on April 23, 2006
I have dicided to count the words from linguist content which I study and other material that I read. I hope it will keep me motivated for further studying.
Total number of words: 1,92,956 words
Number of words from linguist content: 1,37,094 words
Number of words from non-linguist content: 55,862 words
January: (29,069 words)
February (34,431 words)
March (1446 words)
April (7182 words)
Posted in Shashi's reading report, The Linguist | 4 Comments »
Posted by shashi on April 22, 2006
English is now world wide language for communication and well accepted in all aspects from politics to poetry, sports to shopping, travels to telecommunication, Internet to entrepreneur and so on. It is now must to have good communication skill in English.In India, as other developing countries, English is now well accepted as business language. In most of the metropolitan cities, English is first language of communication. If you don't have good English then your chances of success will remain far away from you. Though some small businesses are still using local language for their work, English is still considered as royal language for it. Even though you have choice of studying up to school level in your mother tongue, after that from college level, education is compulsory in English medium only. In fact if some one graduates from university then he will be studying English at least for 10 years. Then why doesn't Indians have good English compatible at international level?
It is not like that Indians doesn't have good English. There are so many Indians who can speak English very well, even as native speakers. Again it is applied to those folks who study in English medium school (convent schools), so naturally they start to speak English from childhood. (Now there is increasing trend of sending children in convent schools instead of local language schools). But what about others who spend their school days studying in mother tongue? When these pupils entered in high schools, they are very much afraid about English and still they have to study their subjects in English medium. Even though they get adjusted to this change they never learn to speak English. They just learn vast vocabulary of academic words, which are useless for casual speaking (these words only accounts for 8 to 10% of any content).
Then why government has made compulsory to study academic education in English? Why it is not to have education in English right from your junior KG? What initiatives should government take to improve education system?
I will deal with this topic in few of my forthcoming posts…keep reading this blog.
Posted in English Language, Interesting reads, My Diary | 4 Comments »
Posted by shashi on April 21, 2006
Content studied from London Life: The oldest cinema
Words and expressions from the programme
Posted in BBC Learning English, London Life | Leave a Comment »
Posted by shashi on April 15, 2006
This is my first talk with Steve. As Steve called me surprisingly I was not prepared with any beforehand notes. Now when I listen to our recording, I find myself been corrected on many occasions. Hope so I could talk more fluently and more correctly next time.
You can find this recording on the Linguist writing blog or you can listen to it directly here.
Listen to recording:
Posted in Shashi's pronunciation report, The Linguist | Leave a Comment »
Posted by shashi on April 15, 2006
Song: My heart is beating
Film: Julie (Hindi film from Bollywood) released in 1975
Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Listen to song:
This song is one of the finest songs from Bollywood. This film was released in 1975 and I think it is the only English song from Hindi cinema. I love this song because of its heart touching music.
Lyrics of this song:
My heart is beating, keeps on repeating
I am waiting for you.
My love encloses, a plot of roses,
And when shall be then our next meeting,
'Cos love you know,
That time is fleeting, time is fleeting, time is fleeting.Oh, when I look at you,
The blue of heaven seems to be deeper blue,
And I can say that,
God himself seems to be looking through (hoo..hoo)
Zu-zu-zu.zu-ru-zu (that's what it sound like)
I will never part from you,
And when shall be then, our next meeting,
'Cos love, you know,
That time is fleeting, time is fleeting, time is fleeting.Spring is the season,
That rolls the reason of lovers who are truly true.
Young birds are meeting,
Why I am waiting, waiting for you (hoo-hoo)
Darling you haunt me,
Say do you want me.
And if it is so, when I will be meeting,
'Cos love you know,
That time is fleeting, time is fleeting, time is fleeting.My heart is beating…
Posted in Interesting reads | 4 Comments »
Posted by shashi on April 14, 2006
Hey guys !!Could you believe that Steve has commented on my blog. I was really shocked and surprised but it's really good surprise.
Here is link: The linguist and grammar
Here is steve's comment:
Shashi,
I find your blog just outstanding and an excellent resource, not only for you, but for other English learners. Congratulations! I have to learn more about blogging from creative bloggers like you. Alexandre has provided me a few tips and I will be putting them into practice.
I am sure that Alexandre is an excellent language learner. I stick with my point of view that grammar instruction, which has been and remains the backbone of most language teaching, is largely counterproductive.
A grammar book can be a useful resource for the person who wants a grammatical explanation or summary. A teacher is also a useful resource. The language itself, in its many forms, written and spoken, is a fantastic resource. Our Linguist system and our tutors are a resource. Your blog is a great resource. The key figure in all of this is the learner who needs to take best advantage of these resources.
Steve.
Posted in Interesting reads, The Linguist | 2 Comments »
Posted by shashi on April 14, 2006
Content studied from London Life: sleepers
Words and expressions from the programme
Haven't had:
I feel really tense if I haven't had a good night's sleep.
Catch up:
If you don't sleep enough you need to catch up. [You need to sleep more]
Insomnia:
Some people are really affected by lack of sleep and some people can't sleep at night. It is called insomnia.
Run down:
To feel run down means feel tired or without energy.
I find if I am under stress of work or I feel anxious, I will have real long period of insomnia and I am sure it doesn't do your body any good. I find I don't digest food properly. My skin looks horrible, I feel dehydrated and generally run down.
Pass time:
Enjoy the time by doing some interesting thing like gardening, reading etc.
Sleep is very important to me; it is my most enjoyable passtime.
Grumpy:
In a bad mood.
If I don't get enough sleep, I am really very very grumpy and I am especially grumpy if somebody wakes me up in the middle of a nap.
Nap, kip, and snooze
These words mean a short sleep.
Example sentence
I sometimes like a snooze after lunch.
Posted in BBC Learning English, Interesting reads, London Life | 2 Comments »
