Posts (page 2)

In recent time, Zee TV's  Little Champs is the most popular reality show. This show is for children under age of 14 to show their singing talent. The contestents are selected from all over India and now this show is at its final stage. There are six little champs who are gonna comepte with each other through singing. All sing perfect and every episode is emotion packed.

My favourite contestent is Diwaker. This 13 year old boy from Delhi is blind since birth. He couldn;t see this wonderful world throug his eyes but he can imagine it. He has a wonderful voice. When you listen to his song, in every song you will find heart touching emotions. He sings from his heart and not from his throat. He is not only good singer but he has  good computer knowledge also. he has won gold medal for his accuracy and skill in computer. I don't know how he manages to operate computer without sight. He is fantastic and I think he is role model for those who are handicp. He is always positive in thinkig. I remember in one episode when one of the contestet was going out from the contest and he was one of the last two finalist and Shaan (host of the show) asked him how he was feeling at that moment, he said "I am very optimistic and one of us has to be eliminate from this show. so I hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

Recently I have been interviewed by James from AnswerEnglish.com. This is the site which guide foreigners who wants to attend English courses in London . This site provides all information related to course as well as accommodation. Few days ago I came across this site and James asked me for interview. Last Wednesday we talked through Skype. It was fun talking to a native speaker. We talked on my life in the as well as on learning English. I told him about learning English at the Linguist. He was amazed with our approach towards language learning. He also appreciated my efforts at Linguivocal podcast.

Take a picture of something that someone put a sticker on.

This is Clifford I have bought for my niece and I am going to give it to her on her first birthday...

Latest episode of Linguivocal podcast is out now.

Listen to episode # 13 : Blogging and English learning

Take a photo of something striped.

This is a pharmacy logo on the paper bag. My pharmacy dispense medicine in these paper bags. I have taken this photo in this morning and edited with Picasa. I hope you like my work..

What was the last wedding you went to?  Were you in the wedding?

The last wedding I went to was my friends wedding. He is a doctor and he was working with us and he invited us on his wedding. We went to his town a day before the wedding. It was religious marriage and that’s why there were many rituals. He booked a hotel for us and all the family members from both sides they stayed at venue place. In the night, there was Mehndi (henna) ceremony and all enjoyed the ceremony with dancing on Hindi songs.

In the morning of wedding day, there was Haladi ceremony. In this ceremony, haldi paste (turmeric paste) is applied to the bride by her female relatives and friends. After the haldi ceremony, other family members throw haldi water on each other. We all participated in this ritual and we enjoyed a lot. On that day I had dressed up in a white and after the ceremony the dress became yellow. (And I had to bin it after marriage). We were as a part of family member and we enjoyed and participated in all rituals.

That was the best wedding I have ever attended. The food was really delicious and full of tasteful recipes. The taste is still lingering in my mouth. I wish I would attend another marvellous wedding.

When was the last time you had to speak in front of a group?  How did you feel?

It was the last lecture I had given in front of medical students. It was about one and half year ago. At that time, I was working as a tutor in the medical college. My English was not good enough to deliver a fluent speech. Whenever there was my lecture, I used to become nervous. I couldn’t speak properly and my vocabulary was very limited. I could manage to conduct an hour’s lecture as I had thorough knowledge of my subject. I think it was easier for me to talk in academic language than casual one. My problem was, I couldn’t answer properly the queries of my student (as I lack in English fluency). I think I had a lot of courage and that’s why I could face all the students confidently (even without proper English).

I used to prepare my notes beforehand and I just set foreword the points. I think as the lecture was more academic oriented, I could manage with my limited English proficiency. The problem used to occur when I used to finish the topic before the time period. Then I didn’t understand what to do to pass the remaining time. I didn’t have fluency and proficiency of English and that’s why I couldn’t manage to chat with students. Then, instead of using wrong English, I used to speak in my native language. That was far better than allowing students to make fun on my English. I think, now I have that much confidence and knowledge that, I can talk to them even in casual English.

How well do you know your next-door neighbors?

I am living in this flat for more than a year but still I haven’t seen my next door neighbour. I just know him (and her) through the crying of their baby. In the night their baby starts crying and keeps us awake. I have never met them. Usually I go out in the morning and at that time there in no one out there. I remember, one day when I was coming back to my home I saw a couple with a pram coming down the stairs but I am not sure that was the same couple.

It’s totally contrasting to my place back in India . In India, when you move to new place, before going there, everyone knows about you everything. And within one day you will get to know everybody. But here in the UK my next door neighbour is still a mystery to me.

What's your morning beverage of choice?  Coffee, tea, juice?  Homemade or store-bought?

I love to have a nice and hot tea in the morning. I don’t like bed tea. I get up early in the morning (that’s strange for someone who knows me since before) and prepare the tea. I don’t like strong tea. I make the tea only with milk and no water. I like sweet tea so I add much (almost two spoons in a cup) sugar in it.  Sometimes my wife adds water and that’s why I don’t allow her to prepare my tea.

I don’t like to have only tea. I eat a lot along with tea and usually rusks and biscuits. I dip the rusks into the tea and allow it to sock up well and then I eat it. After finishing the rusks, I put all the biscuits into the remaining tea and keep them soaking for a while and then eat them with the spoon. (I behave like a kid; my wife’s opinion)

If I use the tea only as a medium to eat the other things then why do I need to have a tea? OK…that’s a million dollar question…..

Today, the new episode of Linguivocal podcast has published. To read and to listen to it just click here.

In this episode I have talked to my wife, Smita, about her English language. Yesterday, while sitting in living room, it just came in my mind why not to talk to my wife about English learning. She is very good in English and she has learned English since childhood. So, we talked for a while and I really enjoyed this interview. We talked about her English learning, about how she got used to British accent. At the end of conversation, I asked her about my progress in English and she told me that I have improved a lot. She advised me to practise speaking English with her. I didn’t think in this way before. I have decided, now onward I will speak in English with her, daily at least half an hour.

She doesn’t know much about learn English @ TheLinguist. She only knows that I have joined this site. She has listened to some of my discussions. I told her about Steve’s approach towards language learning and about grammar phobia. She totally agreed upon Steve’s view.

So just go there and check it out this wonderful interview. Your comments and opinions about my podcast are most welcomed.