What do you make of "plain speaking"?

[Helder.]

Dear Townend

Well, Before I answer your question, I want to express my feeling that I was very glad after read your interesting plain speaking and I believe that if spend a lot of my time to read your lesson it will be very helpful on improve my English and knowledge.
I don’t have any specific answer for your question but I just want to introduce my self, so you will be able know what my daily activity and what the topic of communications are relevant with me.

I am Helder from Timor Leste. My profession is a public servant. I work with Ministry of Infrastructure, Department of Urban Planning. My job title is GIS and mapping specialist for urban planning. My main objective for learning English is to enhance my quality of work through English reference and I hope will be able make communication with everybody in the world. But it’s not meaning that to prevent you to send me the common communication of English.

Best regards
Helder

[Regina D. Pakianthan]

Dear Alan,
Thank you for the lessons and the explainations. I understood it perfectly. Can you please help me with the two sentences below and tell which is correct: The question: How many brothers and sisters do you have?
A) I've none. B) I've no sibilings. C) I've no brothers or sisters D) I've no brothers and sisters. Thank you.

[Alan]

Hi,

I would say that all of the sentences make sense.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story New year resolutions

[Sherry.]

Dear Alan:

Is it ok if I address my letter to one of the forum members? I am interested to communicate to Ms. Blanca. Ms. Blanca, the best way to improve your written English is to keep on logging in to this forum and exchange ideas with the members. As you go along, you will notice that your vocabulary and sentence construction will greatly improve. Of course, it goes without saying that doing the lessons and answering the tests provided is a must in order to buid up and learn the correct grammar and meaning of the words.

Best regards,

Sherry

[Guest]

Dear Alan Townend,
sorry I don't have enough time to response properly
I'll do it soon for sure

thank you so much for your help!!!
Sincerely yours,
Darya

[Guest]

hello everybody,
Nice to meet you all .I am student learning philosophy subject in Monywa university.I'm interested in learning english through computer and reading a book.So i spend most of my time by reading.

[psoe]

dear sir,
how are you today?I try to practice all the lesson that you send me.Sir thank again and again.I'm really interested in studying under your training.
sir ,may you flourish....
your
psoe

[Jana.]

Hi, I am a student and I must admit that the lesson "Figuratively Speaking" was difficult for me. I had to use the dictionary very often to translate this article. I prefer straightforward style of speaking and I usually anticipate it from other people. Hope I´ll go forward with your lessons. Best regards Jana.

[Manibal]

Dear Mr.Alan,
I am glad that you sent me your newsletter.I am mainly a student of English and partly a teacher of international exams like IELTS and TOEFL.I have a lot of books of my own to study English language in general.I would like to know what guidance you can give to students who are diffident about conversation.
This is a big problem that I face with my students of specialised coaching for the above said international exams.
Also I shall be much obliged,if you would recommend to me some,internationally accepted study materials for TOEFL.
With regards,
Manibal

[Trang.]

Dear Alan Townend,
I would like to thank for your interesting article. It is a useful part for my teaching. I like such a kind of article. I think metaphor in communication is good, but any way depend on the situation or else. Adding to say that figuratively speaking help us a lot in learning English and understanding about culture as well.
Thanks so much,
Trang

[Alan]

Hi Manibal,

I know this is a difficult exercise to carry out. I would suggest that you choose a topic that is in the news and thoroughly research this with your students so that they can see the topic from different points of view. The next step is to tell them that there will be a debate later in the timetable and they will have time to prepare the vocabulary/expressions that refer to the topic. When the time comes for the debate/discussion, choose two of your most extrovert students to lead a group each speaking for or against the idea within the topic. That should start formally at first but then let it drift into a 'conversation' under your control.

It might be worth a try.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story A funny thing happened...

[Rosee487]

Hi every body
I try to read your newsletter Figuratively Speaking .
Ican't understand allthe words but I catch thegeneral meaning .Iam stell beginer . I hope to be up-and-up in English with your help.
I think Iam so slow in reading and my accent is bad .
thank you

[Chakriyaros]

Hi Alan Townend. I would like to hear any communication style related to the business. Thank you so much for helping me improve English. I would like to ask you a question, how do I speak and listen to English very well?

Best Regard,
Chakrya

[Kumar.]

Hi Torsten,

My name is Kumar. i am from India. Right now i am working in Software company. I want to know meaning of any word. My request is please send me English word with meanings daily through Email. I am waiting your reply

[Divya_2008]

Hello Alan Townend,

Many thanks for sending such a beautiful description about the communication style.
It was wonderful.

Myself, Divya .I am working in a Multinational Company in India.
I am looking forward to improve and enhance my english writing and speaking skills through your lessons.I have to interact with clients on onsite locations , mainly U.S and U.K. So it will be great on your part if you provide me some material on how to write professional maisl to clients.

In nutshell,I want to reach to the stage where the communication is termed as EFFECTIVE.

Thanks and Regards,
Divya