The image today reminds me of the inscription “roots and wings” carved into a bracelet given to me by my parents before I left for a backpacking trip to Europe in my early twenties. The metaphor, “roots and wings” I have learned since, is quite popular. I had always cherished it as the wise words of my parents and, as a result, felt I “owned” the phrase that so cleverly symbolized the idea that I was granted both security at home and the freedom to explore the world. Roots and wings: so hippyish, so cool. I loved it. And still love it. I love to think about how wonderful it is to have a safe place to make mistakes. And, how freeing it is to be able to count on people to keep you grounded and supported when you experiment with words, actions, ideas, and dreams. Allowing people the freedom to experiment is one of the greatest gifts one can give…as a teacher, as a parent, as a colleague, and as a friend. We all make mistakes, all of us. How refreshing it is to be around people who welcome the mistakes and help you to recover and learn from them. How savvy!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savvy

From Latin “inspirare”, meaning, to breathe into. A beautifully elegant verb that comes to us ready to glide off the tongue with ease. It contains that onomatopoeic sigh in its “s” which demonstrates the very breath! And then, a satisfying pop of the “p” that launches us to dive into and languish in its final “i” and then “r”, lips pursed like Zephyr in Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.

The breath is often overlooked as a passive function of the body. But let our word today remind you that by consciously acknowledging the breath as a function of the body to be harnessed and used as a way of reducing anxiety, you can start to enjoy the free flowing experience of being a human being capable of inspiring yourself and others to move confidently in this world. Don’t underestimate the power of breath during exacting times. Take a moment to take a deep breathe. Notice, really notice, how it feels. And contemplate how speaking is breath. You cannot have one without the other. Think of breathing and using your breath as an important aspect of your language practice.

Thursday is derived from Old English Thu(n)resdæg meaning “day of thunder” after Thor, the Germanic god of thunder. I love that about English; the words we use derive from everywhere and “everywhen”! Finding connections and meaning through the everyday use of words can be a rewarding intellectual and cultural experience.

So, on this Thursday, I hope you can find a few moments in your day to acknowledge your personal power, your thunder, that drums your desire to learn something new today. Baby thunder steps….

Hi everyone. I’m excited to start my own website! My passion is teaching English. I am a professionally recognized teacher (Excellence in Teaching Award, 2017), I have conducted workshops and presented at TESOL/TESL conferences, I have attended TESOL seminars in the US and Canada, and wrote my M.Ed. thesis on Teaching English through Drama at Simon Fraser University.

I love to connect with people from all over the world and help them achieve their language goals. Whether you need to improve a score in your IELTS or CELPIP test, get feedback on your conversation skills, learn to communicate effectively within the social context of Canada, or simply want a grammar lesson! I am here for you! Reach out and let’s connect.

Kindly,

Andrea