Some things I've learned this week...

My students are teaching me new things all the time and this week is no different.  Here are some of the important things I've learned this week:

If you want to speak  better, listen more!
If you want to write better, read more!

Google 'hangout' is a great way to have a conference call.  I'm looking at this method to provide 'online' classes for some groups.  Does anyone have experience with Google hangout?  Do you find it works better than Skype?  I'm curious about this technology.

Successful companies often don't compare themselves to their competition.  In fact, many times, their competition is irrelevant.  What then, do successful companies focus on?  They focus on uncontested market space, they focus on areas in the market where there is no competition, and they make strategic moves in order to get out of the race against competition and into an area in the market where they are able to measure their success not by comparing themselves to their competitors, but by adding value for their customers! 
.....More to come on this subject soon!  I find it fascinating..how about you?

It hasn't been this cold in Curitiba for years!!

What have you learned this week?

More Food for thought!

Eat your RED fruits and Vegetables!!

Will and Would

Will is used for speaking in present about what we intend to do.

Example:  I'll go out for dinner tonight.

Won't is the opposite of will.

Example:

I won't go out for dinner tonight.

Would is used when speculating about what we might do in certain situations.

Example:

I would go out for dinner tonight but I already ate.

Wouldn't is the opposite of Would.

Example:

I told him I wouldn't go out for dinner because I already ate.

Practice:

Complete these sentences using personal information:

I would love to live in ______________________.

I would love to have _______________________.

I would love to work at ____________________.

I wouldn't like to _________________________.

A subject I would love to study is _____________.

Complete these sentences using will or would:

1.)  I _____ stay at a hotel near the beach next week.

2.)  I ________ stay at a hotel near the beach but there aren't any available rooms.

3.)  I ___________ like to spend some time with them next week.

4.)  I ________ spend some time with them next week.

5.)  I'm really tired, I think I ______________ go to bed.

6.) I ___________ go to bed if I didn't have so much work to do.

7.) I _________ go to the party on Saturday because my friend Jane is coming with me.

8.) I ___________ go to the party on Saturday but my friend Jane can't come with me.


Answers:  1.) will 2.) would 3.) would 4.) will 5.) will  6.) would 7.) will 8.) would

Fill in personal information:

What's something you'll do this week?

What's something you'd like to do this week? 

Where's somewhere you'll go this week?

Where's somewhere you'd like to go this week?

Simplier is better

In speaking and writing, the more simple words you use, the better.  You will be easier to understand and get better results from your listener.  Don't complicate your message by trying to use complicated vocabulary. As you read the words below, notice how using more complicated vocabulary doesn't necessarily acheive the desired message.

Examples:

Instead of                    Use

In the event that             if

at this point in time         now

in the order of magnitude of  about

had the opportunity to be     was

come into possession of       get

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Some of you have requested my chocolate chip cookie recipe...it really is quite simple!!  Give it a try! 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Cup of Butter (melted or softened...don't use margarine!!)

3/4 cup Sugar

1 cup brown Sugar

2 eggs

2 Tsp. Vanilla

3 Cups of Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Chocolate Chips (as many as you like...make sure you buy good quality chocolate chips...this makes all the difference!)

optional:

1-2 cups oats

1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl.  Add flower, baking soda, and salt.  Greese 2 baking sheets with butter and line with tin foil if desired.  Shape cookies into balls, flat circles, or just spoon the dough onto the sheets.  Bake at 175 degrees Celcius (350 degrees F) for 7-10 min.  The less you bake the more chewy they will be and the more you bake, the crispier they'll be.

ENJOY!!

PORTLAND, OREGON-USA

Yes, this is the amazing city of Portland, OR  I happen to be a HUGE fan and I think everybody must visit there!  Believe it or not, it really is as amazing as this video makes it out to be.  ENJOY!!

In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd US President)

"If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace."

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."

"Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd US president -
4 March 1933 to 12 April 1944