Why I Study English

When meeting someone for the first time, it can be a little awkward starting a conversation. This is especially the case if you do not have someone introduce you. Below are six steps to help you introduce someone to your friends. Try it out.  INTRODUCE YOUR FRIENDS RIGHT AFTER SAYING HI. ...  INTRODUCE THEM BY THEIR NAMES. ...  DESCRIBE YOUR FRIENDS BRIEFLY AND HIGHLIGHT THEIR STRENGTHS/BEST   QUALITIES. ...  POINT OUT SIMILARITIES IN INTERESTS/BACKGROUND/LIFESTYLE. ...  INVOLVE EVERYONE IN CONVERSATIONS (FILL THEM IN) ...  GIVE THEM TIME TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

I want to talk to E-Track students but I am shy. What should I do? This is a common question students ask me. My answer is to visit Peer English Practice (PEP). You can talk to SLI interns who are mostly E-Track students. Conversations are for 20 minutes about any topic. In addition to talking with GTFs in the English Lounge, you can also talk with students. Why don't you try it? visit www.tiugti.com to make a reservation. Go today!!!  

Did you know there are many study resources available on the tiugti.com website? By clicking the Study link, you can find listening/speaking and reading/writing resources. When you visit the English Lounge, you might have played games or discussed topics using some of these resources. The Global Teaching Institute is always looking for ways to provide English language learning support for students. Do you have any recommendations for us?

Hau from the English Plaza Team Every morning, I go to the Oregon Cafe to have a cup of coffee. I think the coffee is good, but more importantly, I like talking to the English Plaza interns. On Wednesday mornings, Hau is behind the counter. He is always friendly and is happy to serve his customers. I ask him questions about his classes and work in the EP. Below is an example from our conversation. George:  Good morning, Hau. Can I have some coffee, please? Hau: Of course. Can I have your ID card, please? George: Here you go. How is your morning so far? Hau: Going well. I just finished my study abroad application. George: When are you planning to study abroad? Hau: Next spring. I want to go to Europe, but I don't know which country. George: That's great Hau. I'm happy to hear that you will be studying abroad. What will you study? Hau: I'm thinking about computer programming, but it's not decided. I just really want to go to Europe. George: ...

It's never too early to start reading. When my daughter was only just a few months old, I began reading to her. The books I read had pictures of animals, food, and people. Even though she can't read the words, she can recognize the images and sounds. Now that she is almost two years old, she can identify the pictures by name and recommend which books she wants to be read. When we read a book, we can learn something new or think thoughtfully about a topic. It is one of the major foundations of language learning.

Research tells us that there is no specific age when children should start learning a second language.  Most research explains early is best. My daughter has been exposed to both Japanese and English since she was born. She uses Japanese with her mom and at daycare. Of course, I use only English. However, her dominant language is Japanese and will probably continue to be. What are the best ways to introduce language to children?

Introduction This will be the first post in our new class blog. Last week, we listened to two students share their experience at TIU. What has been your experience so far? On this blog, we will share experiences, pictures, and questions about life as a student. This will be an open blog meaning that classmates can share and comment on your post.