Have you ever considered how the stories we tell not only entertain but bind us together? Yuval Noah Harari’s “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” delves into this with the idea of “imagined realities.” This concept resonates deeply with me, especially when it comes to teaching English through the lens of drama. In our vastContinue reading “Beyond Boundaries: Fluency Through Drama”
Author Archives: andreaheald
Idioms: Authenticity for International Actors
At the heart of acting is the pursuit of authenticity. It’s about fully inhabiting a character, understanding their world, and making it believable for the audience. This is where idioms come into play. These phrases aren’t just linguistic quirks; they’re windows into culture, history, and emotion. What are Idioms? An idiom is a phrase orContinue reading “Idioms: Authenticity for International Actors”
Identity and Accent
Let’s set the record straight. It’s pronunciation that truly matters, not your accent. The world has embraced countless actors, like the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger, not because they shed their unique accent, but because their pronunciation was clear and comprehensible. Arnold’s distinct accent didn’t stop him from becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. It added charmContinue reading “Identity and Accent”
Accent Reduction?
“Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery.” – Amy Chua There are some who offer “accent reduction” lessons. Since our accent is attached to our voice which is attached to our being – our identity – accent reduction implies that, somehow, we are not good enough. It reminds meContinue reading “Accent Reduction?”
New Year – New Habits
Start good new habits this year by checking out “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. He writes on page 143, “If you want to master a habit, the key is to start with repetition, not perfection. You don’t need to map out every feature of a new habit. You just need to practice it….Habit formation isContinue reading “New Year – New Habits”
“Down the rabbit hole”
Idiom Chat with The Joy of English (www.thejoyofenglish.ca) and guest, Catherine Lough Haggquist! https://lnkd.in/g4BrsWh7 “Down the rabbit hole” The idiom, “down the rabbit hole” is widely used and means to pursue something which leads to other questions or problems or actions. It conveys the sense that someone spends some time doing something without a clear goal.Continue reading ““Down the rabbit hole””
“On the ball”
Idiom Chat and The Joy of English with guest Bronwen Smith! In today’s video, you will hear how Bronwen uses the phrase “on the ball”. This idiom is widely used and means to be alert and ready, or to have aptitude for something. Information about its etymology can be read here: https://lnkd.in/g9pTufPD. Here are some examplesContinue reading ““On the ball””
“Strike while the iron is hot”
Idiom Chat and The Joy of English! with guest, John Prowse! “Strike while the iron is hot” In today’s video, we use the idiom, “strike while the iron is hot”. This idiom is widely used and means to take advantage of something immediately while the opportunity exists. Here are some example sentences to help you:Continue reading ““Strike while the iron is hot””
“Break a leg”
Idiom Chat and The Joy of English with guest, Michelle Coulter! “Break a leg” In today’s video, we use the idiom, “break a leg”. This idiom is widely used and means “good luck”. So, instead of wishing someone good luck on their endeavour, you may instead choose to say “break a leg!” The etymology ofContinue reading ““Break a leg””
“A lot on my plate”
Idiom Chat and The Joy of English! with guest, Amil Rasheed. “A lot on my plate” In today’s video, we use the idiom, “a lot on my plate”. This idiom is widely used and means to be very busy or to have a lot of responsibilities to deal with. Here are some example sentences to helpContinue reading ““A lot on my plate””