Can learning grammar be instructive and entertaining? To anyone who has encountered the Grammar Geek, the answer is a resounding well, of course it can! Denis Lacroix is a student from Quebec who is working for the summer as a waiter at the Banff Springs Hotel in the Rocky Mountains. Paul Syme is an English linguistics professor who engages Denis in a conversation about language while relaxing in the hotel’s lounge one afternoon. Through a series of daily lessons, Denis learns from Mr. Syme, a.k.a. the Grammar Geek, how to become more accurate in the following areas: • The past, present, future, and perfect verb forms • The modals can, could, may, might, must, etc. • Adjectives, adverbs and word order • Nouns and pronouns • The Genitive • Determiners • Prepositions and phrasal verbs • Conditionals • Active and passive voice • Sentence structure Rather than present grammar in a dull and flavorless way, the Geek shows Denis the path to grammatical wisdom with meaningful examples and relevant comparisons to French. Through their conversations, Denis is exposed to the mistakes that Francophones tend to make and the reasons underlying these mistakes. He also realizes that when grammar is taught in an understandable and humorous manner, learning it can be rewarding and actually fun – yes… fun! Included in the book is a variety of practice exercises including gap-fill, multiple choice, translation and contextualization.
Louis and Mr. Walters are back! Presented in the form of a Socratic dialogue like its predecessor, The Return of the Grammar Guru aims to both instruct and entertain its readers through give-and-take conversations between the Grammar Guru, a retired linguistics professor who runs a pub near the university campus, and Louis, an aspiring English teacher with an insatiable thirst for grammatical knowledge and beer. Through a series of weekly encounters with the Guru, Louis learns about: •The difference between the infinitive and the gerund, as in He tried to be nice to his boss and He tried being nice to his boss. •The use of the article in English, which can make the difference between He admired Picasso and He admired the Picasso. •The difference between Didn’t you bring any beer? and Didn’t you bring some beer? •The contrast between bare noun and genitive constructions, as in Someone stole our car tires and Someone stole our car’s tires. •The use of the demonstratives in There was this guy walking down the street and There was that guy walking down the street. •The effect of adverb position on meaning, as illustrated by the difference between She shared her experience generously and She generously shared her experience. •The subtle difference between With no job Rob would be happy and With no job would Rob be happy. Rather than overwhelm his listener with endless rules, the Guru makes grammar come to life by focusing on the meaning of the various grammatical forms. Also included in the book is a series of meaning-based exercises that allow readers to test their knowledge of the forms discussed in the book.
Written in the form of a Socratic dialogue, the Grammar Guru is the first Grammar book written to instruct and entertain its readers – yes … entertain! Hirtle Walters, a.k.a. the Grammar Guru, is a retired linguistics professor who runs a pub-style restaurant not far from his former university campus. Louis Bonenfant is an English Studies student and aspiring English teacher who one day seeks out the Guru’s help. Through a series of weekly encounters with the Guru, Louis learns the difference between: A verb’s state and action use. The simple and progressive form as seen in sentences like I take three pills a day and I’m taking three pills a day or I like university and I’m liking university. The simple past and present perfect form as in I lost my assignment and I’ve lost my assignment. The present perfect and present perfect progressive form as in Your python has escaped and Your python has been escaping. The modals can, could, may, might, will, shall, etc. A real and an unreal condition. Rather than inundate Louis with confusing rules and lifeless examples, the Guru instructs Louis on the meaning underlying the various grammatical forms. Through their encounters, Louis comes to the realization that the Guru’s meaning-based approach to teaching grammar and jocular character makes learning it much more rewarding and even fun. Also included in the book are a series of meaning-based exercises.
Can learning grammar be instructive and entertaining? To anyone who has encountered the Grammar Geek, the answer is a resounding well, of course it can! Denis Lacroix is a student from Quebec who is working for the summer as a waiter at the Banff Springs Hotel in the Rocky Mountains. Paul Syme is an English linguistics professor who engages Denis in a conversation about language while relaxing in the hotel’s lounge one afternoon. Through a series of daily lessons, Denis learns from Mr. Syme, a.k.a. the Grammar Geek, how to become more accurate in the following areas: The past, present, future, and perfect verb forms The modals can, could, may, might, must, etc. Adjectives, adverbs and word order Nouns and pronouns The GenitiveDeterminers Prepositions and phrasal verbs Conditionals Active and passive voice Sentence structure Rather than present grammar in a dull and flavorless way, the Geek shows Denis the path to grammatical wisdom with meaningful examples and relevant comparisons to French. Through their conversations, Denis is exposed to the mistakes that Francophones tend to make and the reasons underlying these mistakes. He also realizes that when grammar is taught in an understandable and humorous manner, learning it can be rewarding and actually fun – yes … fun! Included in the book is a variety of practice exercises including gap-fill, multiple choice, translation and contextualization.
YOUR WORSHIPFULNESS is the story of how a teenage Carrie Fisher created Star Wars's greatest character, Princess Leia. Leia began as little more than a damsel in distress, albeit one with cinema's most iconic hairstyle. Over three films, Carrie made her a complicated character, beloved the world over. Then Darth Vader died, the Ewoks danced, the credits rolled, and that was that. Carrie now had the rest of her life to live, stuck in Leia’s shadow. What do you after the whole world has seen you duct-taped into a metal bikini? Worse, what can you do when the secrets you’ve tried to hide about your inner life won’t stay hidden? When you can’t control the thoughts in your head? YOUR WORSHIPFULNESS has everything: money, sex, love, power, and romance. It’s a story of addiction and mental illness, of recovery and fame, of friendship and motherhood, trying to be your best when you can only remember the worst.
The next major advance in the Web-Web 3.0-will be built on semantic Web technologies, which will allow data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries. Written by a team of highly experienced Web developers, this book explains examines how this powerful new technology can unify and fully leverage the ever-growing data, information, and services that are available on the Internet. Helpful examples demonstrate how to use the semantic Web to solve practical, real-world problems while you take a look at the set of design principles, collaborative working groups, and technologies that form the semantic Web. The companion Web site features full code, as well as a reference section, a FAQ section, a discussion forum, and a semantic blog.
Mindfulness meditation insights and applications to daily living, from a seasoned Buddhist practitioner and teacher. The book is arranged as a series of weekly topics that can be relevant guides for navigating the challenges we face in the real world. Bonnie Ryan-Fisher is a dedicated lay Buddhist practitioner who leads meditation and yin yoga classes in Whitecourt, AB. She's also a longtime writer whose recent work inclines toward Dhamma. Bonnie's first meditation teachers were found in books and her practice began in the 90's in a great deal of isolation. In 2014, two years after finally founding a sitting group in her hometown, she launched her blog, Mindful Moment (mindful-moment.webnode.com) as a place to share that 20-year journey with others also finding their way. This book emerged simply because it seemed time for the blog to blossom into a book, joining the circle to where it all began. Accolades for Mindful Moment: "How many retreats I have taught in the pristine and protected environment of a monastery or retreat centre, only to hear the inevitable question at the end, 'How can I bring this into my everyday life?' Well, here is some fine writing to give you an idea how it is done." Ajahn Sona, Birken Forest Monastery "A wonderful book full of wisdom and practical ideas for living every day. Whether you are on a path or considering one you will find helpful observations and insightful nuggets." Michael Kerman, MSW, Founding Director Leading Edge Seminars "With wisdom born from lived experience and philosophical wonder, Ryan-Fisher's personal reflections on mindfulness are poetic, insightful and relatable." Kurt Zubatiuk, Dip TIRP, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) "An inspiring and beautiful sharing of a personal spiritual journey through daily life experiences with the Dhamma as foundation. Highly recommended " Jayanta (Shirley Johannesen), Sakyadhita Canada "Bonnie Ryan-Fisher offers practical and transformative insights from more than twenty years experience on the Buddhist path." Ted Meissner, The Secular Buddhist Podcast "Ryan-Fisher has given us a window into her gentle weaving of Buddhist wisdom and kindness into the minutiae of daily life. She is an inspiration and guide for us to discover how to bring this attention and kindness into our own lives." Daryl Lyn Ross, True North Insight
In Group Filial Therapy (GFT), therapists train parents to conduct play sessions with their own children to help meet children's therapeutic needs, and to transfer appropriate skills to family life. Based on parents' application of Child-Centred Play Therapy, taught and supervised by filial therapists, this evidence-based method is highly effective for working with families from diverse backgrounds and locations. This book provides an accessible guide to the theory and practice of GFT, and for the first time offers step-by-step guidelines for implementing the GFT program developed by Dr Guerney, the co-creator of Filial Therapy. Important practical considerations are addressed by Dr Guerney and Dr Ryan, such as how to determine the composition of groups and the duration of programs, and how to conduct Filial Therapy intakes. The facilitative attitudes and skills needed to be an effective Filial Therapy group leader are also described, and comprehensive instructions for implementing Dr Guerney's 20-week model of GFT are provided. The book closes with examples of how the program may be adapted to meet the needs of special groups. Replete with examples and dialogues bringing to life the group process, this definitive guide will enable therapists already familiar with the method, as well as those wishing to learn it, to maximise the fulfilment of therapeutic goals for participating families. Practitioners in mental health, social services and counselling, as well as parenting experts, play and filial therapists and therapists in training will find that this book expands and enriches the services they can offer their clients.
Do the Spirits Speak to You? BLURB Nineteen-year-old Rory Fisher is all but orphaned and alone in the world. Her only remaining loved one is her Yavapai grandfather, a once proud Indian, who is stricken with a diseased mind and confined to a nursing home in Twin Falls, Idaho. In a rare moment of clarity, the old Yavapai suddenly informs his granddaughter that the Spirits have spoken to him and the message is clear. She must leave immediately, on this very day, back to the land of his people in the red-walled canyons of Arizona. The true purpose of the journey remains a mystery as Rory embarks on her quest to a place called Vortex Canyon, located in the wilderness just north of Sedona. She travels with only the promise of her grandfather; the promise that his Spirits will guide and protect her. However, will the Spirits speak to Rory, a Caucasian girl adopted by an Indian family, and not of true Yavapai blood? Was the training her grandfather gave her as a child enough to reach out to the Spirit World in adulthood? Only Rory's Story will tell... EXCERPT “How is my little Sprout today?” the old man asked, rising from his chair by the window. He wore jeans, a bolo string tie made of turquoise, and a pale blue button-down western shirt. “I’m fine,” Rory replied. “Are you sure?” He spread his arms, beckoning to her. She went to him and gladly accepted his embrace. “I’ll be okay, Grandpa,” she assured him. While in his arms, her hands instinctively went to the long white pony tail that still hung halfway down his back. Her fingers caressed that mane of hair as they had done so often since she was a child. The old man gave her an extra squeeze before releasing her. Rory looked up into those dark, aged eyes. She saw the special gleam, that sparkle that said he had his mind about him today. Such days became fewer and farther between with each passing year. The skin on his face was dark, weathered and creviced by time, and still bore all the traits of his ancient Yavapai Indian ancestry. “You wouldn’t be lying to the old man, now would you?” he smiled. “No Grandpa,” she lied. “Please sit down, little Sprout.” He motioned for her to sit on the narrow bed. “I have something to tell you.” His voice had always charmed her. It was a deep, resonating sound, with the words delivered slowly and deliberately. As always, she obeyed him without question. She watched as the old man walked to the window and gazed out on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the Sunrise Home for the Elderly. So many hours she had spent with him, talking about her loves, her life, her troubles. And all he would do is sit in his chair and stare out that window, never saying a word. She wondered if the view looked different to him on days like today, when his mind wasn’t buggered with the disease. “Do you remember the story I told you about my father, and the quest he endured to save the lives of his family?” he asked, still facing the window, hands clasped behind his back. “I do, Grandpa. I remember it.” “It has been four generations since a quest of this importance has gripped our family. But the time has come again…and you, little Sprout, must bear the weight upon your shoulders. You must embark on the very same quest as my father. You alone must journey to Red Rocks. It shall be the only relief, for yourself and those who love you.” “What about Robert?” she asked. “He is of full blood and the next in line of descendents.” “Bah!” the old man flicked his hand as if to shoo away a fly. “Robert is nothing but a coyote in sheep’s wool; a disgrace to the family.” He turned from the window and kneeled before Rory. He took her hands in his. “You, my little Sprout, are a true Fisher, whether you believe it or not. I have taught you the importance of the sun, your faith, and your dreams. Have I not?” “You have, Grandpa.” The old man nodded, and smiled with pride. “Take that knowledge with you in your quest. Follow your dreams and the path that the Spirits lay before you. Trust in them, and trust in yourself. Look to them, and look into yourself. There you will find the answers…”
Jimmy Fortune is a detective who reluctantly agrees to help when his old army buddy's wife mysteriously disappears. To get her back, he'll have to confront a corrupt corporation, stolen secrets, an alleged affair, and his own past. Written and filmed by Chasing Time films, especially for the English language classroom, Fortune is a six-episode video series and course that specializes in communication skills. The Fortune series is an engaging and motivating alternative to artificial language learning videos or commercial films that lack a learning focus. In an approach that draws from research in Conversational Analysis and Pragmatics, the Fortune textbook draws attention to social actions such as offering to help, apologizing, and leave taking, that are key for maintaining relationships and functioning in society. Students are encouraged to look beyond mere helpful words and phrases to reflect on context, relationships, and whole sequences of language while studying and ultimately producing language.* Fortune Blue videos and learning materials: High Elementary/Pre-Intermediate learners (CEFR level A2)* 30 teaching hours per level * Works as a supplemental text or short module/elective class on communication* Teachers book contains teacher notes with suggestions on how to present the material, and ways to adapt it, a complete answer key, and extension activities. * Videos are available for free on YouTube or compiled on a USB available through the Alphabet Publishing website.
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