MLS Blog
INTESOL 2019
by Lauren Li
On November 2nd, Midwest Language Services, LLC attended the INTESOL Conference in Indianapolis. This annual event gathers ESL instructors from across Indiana to share ideas and discuss ways to better serve students from grade school to adulthood. Noteworthy sessions this year included:
- ideas for teaching fluency and vocabulary in reading
- ways to incorporate technology into improving students’ speaking and pronunciation
- and a look at cross-cultural competency in the language classroom.
The latter session focused specifically on similes, proverbs and puns. Advanced students might find it interesting, for example, to compare similes made in their native languages to those made in English. Even if students (and native speakers) rarely use these phrases in everyday life, this simple exercise can highlight the ways that culture affects language.
After this year’s conference, as always, we plan to utilize the new ideas we’ve gained in lessons for our students at MLS. Happy teaching everyone!
Workshop Opportunity
This is targeting Japanese-English interpreters/translators who are working in or interested in working in automotive industries. I think it is a great opportunity to learn how to improve interpreter/translator skills.
Date & time: 9am-4pm on Saturday, November 9
Location: Subaru of Indiana Automotive (in Lafayette)
Fee: $70 (Ticket sales end Thursday, November 7 at 10pm)
October 30, 2019
Now Interviewing Kirundi, Mina, Nepali, and Somali Interpreters in Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio
Announcements, Job Opportunities, Interpreting Jobs
Are you a professional interpreter of Kirundi, Mina, Nepali, Somali and English? We are interviewing potential interpreters online for opportunities in Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. Please send your resume and cover letter to info@midwestlanguageservices.com to be considered. This is a part-time job for freelance interpreters. Thank you.
July 30, 2019
See, Look, and Watch
English has many words with similar meanings. In some languages, one word has multiple meanings. Here is a basic breakdown of what these words mean:
see = to open one’s eyes
When your eyes are open, you can see if there is light. If your eyes are closed or there is no light, you cannot see.
To see can also mean to understand. People often say, “I see” instead of “I understand.”
To see is automatic. It is something we do with no effort.
To look is to focus your eyes on something.
Look at the picture.
I know you are listening if you look at me while I am speaking.
To watch is to look at and wait for an action to happen.
People usually use “watch” before “tv,” “a movie,” or a sporting event, but sometime “watch” can mean you are looking at something while you wait for something to happen that is very slow.
“We watched the turtle slowly come out of its shell.”
To watch can also mean to take care of someone for a short time.
“His grandmother watched him while his parents were away.”
June 18, 2019
Easily Confused Words by Non-Native English Speakers: Most and Almost
Most/Most of
Almost all/Almost every/Almost none
Most + plural noun
Most people
Most Americans
Most cars
Most of + a particular group
Most of the people in this building are under the age of 50.
Most of the Americans who live in Indiana are familiar with the Indy 500.
Most of the cars that are made in the United States are manufactured in the Midwest.
A common mistake I often hear is the use of “almost” in place of “most.”
INCORRECT: Almost people have brown eyes.
CORRECT: Most people have brown eyes.
INCORRECT: Almost Americans like to drive.
CORRECT: Most Americans like to drive.
__________________________________________________________________
Almost all + plural noun
Almost every + singular noun
Almost none + of + particular group
Almost no + plural noun
INCORRECT: Almost sidewalks are made of concrete.
CORRECT: Almost all sidewalks are made of concrete.
INCORRECT: Almost none of the sidewalks are made of asphalt.
CORRECT: Almost every sidewalk here is made of concrete.
INCORRECT: Almost nothing sidewalk here is made of asphalt.
CORRECT: Almost no sidewalks here are made of asphalt.
Say Something and Tell Someone
Say something.
Tell someone.
A common error I hear is misuse of the words, “say,” “tell,” “said,” and “told.” To say something is to speak words. We can say something to another person. We can say something to ourselves to help us remember something. The past tense of “say” is “said.” In sentences, “say” and “said” should not have a pronoun or proper noun like a name of a person in after them. For example, it is incorrect to use “say” like this:
INCORRECT: He said me he is going to check the status of the project.
CORRECT: He told me he was going to check the status of the project.
INCORRECT: She said me she was sick yesterday.
CORRECT: She told me she had been sick yesterday.
Notice that when we report what someone told us, the verb becomes a past tense verb. He is going to check the status (now or soon), but we change “is going to” to “was going to.” This is because it is not direct speech, but reported speech. The original speaker is not saying the words. We are reporting what the person said. Past tense becomes past perfect.
When using the word “tell” or “told,” we use a pronoun or a proper noun (a name) after the word. We tell someone something.
The pattern is (Subject + tell/told + someone + independent clause)
Example: He told me he was going to back to Japan later this year.
The independent clause is “…he was going back to Japan later this year” because it expresses an entire idea with a subject and verb.
In short, remember this:
Say something.
Tell someone.
May 13, 2019
Julie Metz Interviews Tanya Hoover, President of Midwest Language Services, LLC
Announcements, International Services, Japanese, relocation services, News
Julie Metz, Execuitve Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Interviewed Tanya Hoover of Midwest Language Services, LLC last week. Click here to listen to the interview.
Midwest Language Services was On-the-Air with Julie Metz
Announcements, ESL Indiana, Deaf Community, English Conversation, expats Indiana, International Services, Interpreters, Japanese, Japan, Language Classes, living in Indiana, Newcomer, New Classes, relocation services, Sign Language
Tanya Hoover, President and Founder of Midwest Language Services, was invited to talk about her business on a radio show this morning that aired on 106.5 FM, The Giant. Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Julie Metz, invited Ms. Hoover to speak on the Chamber Chat radio show. While Tanya is not new to Shelby County, Midwest Language Services, LLC is. She started English as a Second Language teaching adult students from Yuma Industries when she started her business as a sole proprietorship nearly fifteen years ago.
A new English as a Second/New Language (ESL/ENL) class is being offered by Midwest Language Services in Shelbyville, Indiana that will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon for non-native speakers of English. For more details about this and other services Midwest Language Services provides, such as sign language (ASL) interpreting, document translations, and other interpreting services, please contact us at info@midwestlanguageservices.com or call (317) 296-7997.
March 1, 2019
Eikawa English Conversation Group
English Conversation, ESL Indiana, ESL Indianapolis, expats Indiana, Japanese, Language Classes, living in Indiana, Newcomer, relocation services, Welcome Center
Join us for a weekly English conversation group that will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 beginning in March. The cost for each class is $12.50. We will meet at 735 Shelby St., Suite #106, Indianapolis, IN 46203. Class size is limited to five students.
February 1, 2019
Lost in Translation - Busting Common Myths While Saving Your Organization's Reputation and Money
Translators, Interpreters, Language jobs, Marketing, Localization
Do you need a translator or an interpreter? What is the difference? Learn more in this article.
Welcome Jasmin Sohal!
We are excited that Jasmin has joined Midwest Language Services as an intern. Jasmin is currently a junior attending IUPUI, majoring in Communication Studies and minoring in Design Production. After earning her Bachelor’s degree, she hopes to attend law school and pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.