Teacher’s Blog: Reflections on Education, Culture and Life in Canada by Mike Simpson
Video Study: What is Fall? A Look at the Science of This Colourful and Inspirational Season
Happy fall everyone! I wanted to share a video with you that's perfect for a listening exercise for everyone who is studying English. In the following video you'll learn more about what fall is, from a scientific point of view. This video looks at concepts like why...
Falling for Autumn: Vocabulary and English Study for this Beautiful Season
What is it about fall which is so captivating? Is it the crisp air or the colour in the falling leaves? And on an English study note, which expression do you prefer and why? Fall or Autumn? About My Experience Personally this may be my favourite season of all. It has...
Tutoring in Toronto, Canada includes a Free Downtown Walking Tour with Me
Hello my friends. I am gearing up for the summer season of tutoring and exploring this wonderful city I live in, Toro to, Canada. If you are local to the GTA or Greater Toronto Area, or just plan to visit, be sure to let me know. I offer a free tour to all my clients...
What is Canada and What Canadian Values Represent us Best?
As we approach Christmas and the holiday season I start to consider what's important in my life and what I want to achieve in the new year. I hope this season brings you peace and joy, and 2023 is a great year for you. There is a trouble in the world right now and...
Word of the Year 2022 (Vocabulary Study)
What is the Word of the Year? What searches trended? And what do these results tell us about ourselves and out society? Have you heard of this process of identifying a single word that sums up the year? Whether of not these words represent the zeitgeist or not, the...
Happy Lunar New Year and All the Best for 2022!
I want to take a moment to wish all my students present and past a very good 2022. Happy new year! 😀🎉 What is Lunar New Year? Lunar new year is a period after calendar new year (January 1) that some people around the world celebrate the new year, according to the...
Olympic Games are Going to be a Grind for Canada: Let’s Go Curlers, Skeletors and Hockey Players !
The Olympic Games start on Feb. 4th! That's just two weeks away! Lots of stories are circulating and some of them are serious and some are super fun. Compare the bleak outlook from this article about the cautious worlds of athletes before they take off to Beijing, in...
Word of the Year 2020-2021: From Pandemic to Vaccine (What Comes Next?)
I stumbled upon an interesting article about the "Word of the Year: for 2021 and I wasn't surprised what it was: vaccine. Vaccine was on the lips of millions, and eventually into the arms of millions too, including me and my family in Toronto, Canada. It was on the...
Happy 2022: My Thoughts on Trends in Tech and Education and Making a Pivot This Year
Wow, happy new year! What a year that passed! 2021 felt like a series of ups and downs. I personally have felt the challenges and I am optimistic that 2022 will we can grow and pivot, to take on new perspectives and implement novel approaches to engaging with people...
The Roots of English: How Latin Expressions Say So Much with So Little
What are the roots of Latin in English? How common is it? Latin is a fundamentally important historical language that has contributed to the development of many other languages around the world. According to dictionary.com: "Over 60 percent of all English words have...