Each of the world’s languages, including English, is just one part of one mode of communication, which is verbal communication. Human communication is actually multi-modal. Multi means many, and modal refers to the mode or type of communication. What are […]
If you don’t understand a joke or humourous comment in another language, it can make you feel like a bit of an outsider. Engaging in humour, either by attempting to be funny or by reacting to someone else’s humour, can […]
This is a hodgepodge (a mixture) of strategies I often share with my students in Japan to encourage them to become more accountable for their own learning. Good language learners are very proactive. Do you use all these strategies? Are they any you think you should use more?
A few posts ago I wrote about rejoinders and offered some basic ones that you can use to show interest, happiness, sadness, or surprise. Here are some more rejoinders to express agreement, understanding, not understanding, disagreement, apologizing, praising, refusing, accepting, and more!
In English, we usually give short yes/no answers to questions using tag endings. For example, if I ask you, “Do you speak English?” you answer, “Yes, I do.” The I do part of your answer is the tag ending. Always use tag endings when you give short yes/no answers…
A rejoinder（あいづち）is a quick response to show that you are interested, have an opinion, or simply are paying attention. Using rejoinders, along with follow up questions and comments, is essential for having smooth conversations. Try talking to someone without them […]