Japan Travel Moment: the Washlet

Of all the technological advances Japan is famous for, none is greater than toilet seat bidet, often known as a Washlet. I’m not sure if this is an amalgamation of “Wash and Toilet” or an acronym for “Wash Ass SHit Liberally Every Time.” These are a dream for weary bums wedged into airplane seats far …

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English Basics: pronoun lowdown

Subject and object pronouns are weird and confusing for both learners and native English users alike, but it is especially troubling when more than one subject/object is present. If you don't know what I'm talking about, consider the following sentences. Which ones are correct? She and I went to the hockey game.Her and I went …

English Basics: there, there’s, their, theirs, they’re in the air

Let's all face it, English sucks. It's a terrible language with all sorts of confusing little landmines to trip up learners and native speakers alike. The problem during speaking is these words are pronounced the same, but have significantly different meanings. When writing, these words are commonly misused, either consciously or subconsciously. Sometimes my typing …

English Basics: verb tenses for gin lovers

There are so many tenses in English, it gives people tension, and what better way to ease tension than drinking a lovely gin and tonic, martini, or gin smash. Many of us use tenses without really knowing what they are or how to use them properly. Whenever we use the PERFECT tense we must use …

English Basics: me, myself, and myself?

There is a saying in English that we're never alone because we are always with "me, myself, and I." These are three common pronouns to denote ME as the subject and object of a sentence, yet they are commonly misused by English speakers. Let's have a brief look at how to use them properly. I …

English Basics: EKS marks the spot

One of the worst pronunciation problems amongst native English speakers is the "ESK" sound. For some reason, many native English speakers pronounce it as X (EKS) instead of ESK. Instead of ESCape, people often say Xcape. This also happens with ESP, as in ESPecially, which is sometimes pronounced Xpecially. It is nonsensical when you think …

English Basics: much, many, little, and few

As an ESL teacher, it is always troubling when students presented examples of poor English usage by native English speakers. One of the most common examples of misused English grammar is the word "much." For instance, I frequently hear there is "much" cars on the road, and "much" cases of COVID-19. Unfortunately this is incorrect, …