Lockdown - Day 36

Hi again. I'm back. Safe and sound. Alive and kicking. Still breathing. You too? That's excellent news.

So let's get down to brass tacks. After spending some time looking into the messy world of the English prepositions I think the time has come for us to take a step back, pull focus and look at the big picture.

I fear we're not going back to the classroom anytime soon. Yet I think we can still make progress. Over the past few months I have explained to you what the essence of the advanced level is about. Those of you that were fresh out of a B2 class know now what's expected from you. The C1.2 students are old hands at this and, if anything, have become even more aware of they should be doing.

So, what can I do for you at this juncture? I'm afraid that we, teachers at the advanced level, are not unlike those guys on the airport tarmac that waving around the flashlights. Our main (and possibly only) job consists in showing our students the way. We cannot do the learning for you nor can we force you to get the exposure you need to become familiar with turns of phrases... but you already know that. If you're reading this post, you are still hacking your way through the C1 jungle, which means that you're not quite content with your command of the language you have chosen to master. Good. Stay hungry. I'm going to keep posting on this blog and creating content for you to deepen your knowledge of our beloved second language.

My plan revolves around the idea of revising everything we have seen so far and offer specific "customized" feedback, but before we do that I'd like to center on a topic that will (hopefully) increase your language awareness. Yes. Tomorrow I'm going to upload a video that will discuss the concept of idiolect, which I consider to be key in your learning process.

Anyway, that'll be tomorrow. Today I would like you all to watch the video below. In under three minutes astronaut Chris Hadfield gives you some pointers as to how you should deal with self-isolation. The video is priceless not only because it offers some useful information (all the more relevant considering he's been locked up in a space station for a long long time) but also because it offers very interesting vocabulary you should absolutely steal and use.

If you pay close attention, you'll realize that Chris Hadfield uses quite a few synonymous terms and expressions. For instance when he poses these three questions:

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• What are your objectives?
• What's your mission?

They mean basically the same thing but elicit from the listener different reactions. Together they make a powerful point. He then goes on to offer a synonym for mission. He is focused, accurate, concise and engaging. Perfect. So try to do just that. Think of some specific message you want to relay and put yourself to the test: can you say that (whatever it is) in English in under three minutes? That's a challenge for you right there.