Weekly Corrections and Pointers for Your English: 3-4-2024

Hey everyone!

Hope you’re having a fantastic week so far! This week, I’ve got some cool tips and fixes from our latest English lessons to share with you. It’s super important to get these little things right to steer clear of the usual slip-ups. And, if you’re on the hunt for more ways to up your communication game or fancy some one-on-one English coaching, just give me a shout.

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Common Corrections

Go vs. Come

• Explanation: Use "go" for actions moving away from the speaker and "come" for actions toward the speaker.
• Common Error: Confusing "go" and "come" based on the speaker's perspective.
• Correct Usage: "I'll go to the shop." vs. "Can you come here?"

Pronunciation

Nailing the pronunciation of certain words can be a real game-changer in how confidently you speak English. Let’s zoom in on a few tricky ones:

1. Prioritize

The magic happens on the first syllable here: PRI-or-i-tize. It’s like you’re giving a command: PRI! This tells your listener what’s important without even knowing the rest of the word yet. Getting this right sets the tone for the entire conversation, showing that you’re clear on what needs attention.

2. Words Ending in "ism"

These can be a bit of a tongue twister, but here's a trick: focus on the first syllable. Take "criticism" for example; you want to hit the 'CRIT' part like you mean it: CRIT-ic-ism. This emphasis not only helps you pronounce it correctly but also makes you sound more confident in what you’re talking about, whether it’s criticism, optimism, or realism.

3. Empathetic

This one’s a bit softer and requires a gentle touch on the "th" sound. It’s /?m?p?θ?t?k/, where the 'PATH' part needs a bit of empathy itself—soft and understanding. This pronunciation brings out the essence of the word, helping you convey genuine understanding and compassion in your conversations.

Vocabulary

Company vs. Society

Explanation: A "company" is a commercial business or firm. "Society," however, refers to a community or group of people with common traditions, institutions, or interests. French speakers often mix these up due to the word "société" in French, which can mean both but often refers to a company.

Example

• Company: "She works for a tech company that specializes in software development."
• Society: "He is actively involved in a society that promotes environmental conservation."

Manager vs. Chief

Explanation: "Manager" is the term used for someone who is responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group of staff. "Chief" might be used in titles like "chief executive officer (CEO)" but is not used alone to describe a managerial position in English. This confusion sometimes arises from the French word "chef," which means "chief" but is used to denote a manager or leader.

Example

• Manager: "The project manager will oversee the development phase."
• Chief: "The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for the company's financial planning."

Types of Leave

Explanation: Various types of leave (absence from work) serve different purposes, such as "maternity leave" for childbirth, "sick leave" for illness, and "sabbatical leave" for extended breaks usually for research or travel. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in professional communication.

Example

• "She is on maternity leave until August."
• "He took sick leave yesterday due to a fever."

Hire vs. Fire vs. Layoff

Explanation: "Hire" means to employ someone. "Fire" means to dismiss someone from their job, often due to performance issues or misconduct. "Layoff" refers to temporary or permanent job termination because of reasons unrelated to the employee's performance, like economic downturns or company restructuring.

Example

• Hire: "The company plans to hire 20 new employees this quarter."
• Fire: "The employee was fired for violating company policy."
• Layoff: "Due to budget cuts, several employees were laid off."

Raise vs. Promotion

Explanation: A "raise" is an increase in salary or wage. A "promotion" is advancement in one's job position or rank, often accompanied by a raise, but primarily denotes increased responsibilities and status.

Example

• Raise: "After a year of hard work, she received a 10% salary raise."
• Promotion: "He was promoted to senior manager, overseeing the entire marketing department."

Useful Phrases

1. Usually, Used to, Be Used to, Get Used to

• Usually indicates a habitual action or state in the present. It's about what happens regularly or most of the time.

Example: "I usually start my day with a cup of coffee." (It’s your regular routine now.)

• Used to describes an action or state that was regular in the past but no longer happens.

Example: "I used to play soccer on weekends." (You played regularly in the past, but not anymore.)

• Be Used to means being accustomed to something. It refers to something familiar to you, no matter how strange or difficult it was at first.

Example: "I am used to the noise in the city." (The noise doesn’t bother you because you’re accustomed to it.)

• Get Used to refers to the process of becoming accustomed to something new.

Example: "I’m getting used to waking up early for my new job." (Initially, it was difficult, but now you’re adapting.)

2. To Take Time Off

Explanation: "To take time off" can apply to short breaks like a day or two, longer vacations, or extended leaves for health or family reasons. It's a formal way to discuss absence from work, emphasizing the personal need for a break.

Example

• "I’m planning to take time off next month to recharge and spend some time with my family." (A planned absence for personal rejuvenation and family time.)
• "She's taking time off to deal with a health issue." (A temporary work break for health reasons.)

Conclusion

By focusing on these corrections, pronunciation points, and incorporating new vocabulary and phrases, you'll see a noticeable improvement in your language skills and confidence. Remember, regular practice and application in different contexts are crucial for mastery.

As Always

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