Tuesday is New Year's Day and that means goodbye 2012 and hello 2013! Can you believe it?
What did you accomplish with your English in 2012 and why did it work? How could you continue to use those successful techniques or methods and apply them to your English challenges in 2013? It would be a great idea to take the next few days to map out your goals for 2013.
How will you get to where you want to be?
Remember to make your goals S-M-A-R-T!
Have you been reading the English and Culture blog all year? I hope so!
If you haven't, you might have missed one of our best articles.
Don't worry! Today you get a second chance. Here are our 6 most popular articles and a few reasons to take a look at them...for the first or the second time around.
Let your friends and colleagues catch up on our latest articles too!
#1- How to Adjust to Life in a New Culture
Are you looking for some tips and advice on how to feel better in your new culture?
Is so, follow the link below to this article. Get advice from eight intercultural professionals on everything from culture shock, to eye contact, to figuring out your own cultural values, to dealing with reverse culture shock when you return home.
Take a look!
Adjusting to Life in a New Culture: Intercultural Blog Carnival
#2- Five Ways to Become a More Confident English Speaker
Confidence is everything when it comes to learning English! Would you like to become a more confident English speaker?
In this article, you will learn five strategies that you can use today to start taking more risks and to stop letting your shyness hold you back from improving your English and improving your life.
Want to become a more confident English speaker? Check out the article.
5 Ways to Become a More Confident English Speaker
#3- Six Hollywood Myths About American Culture
It's not always easy to tell the difference between the stereotypes that Hollywood serves up to us and the real American culture.
However, if you are currently living in the U.S. or if you plan to move here soon, you might want to take a few minutes to read this article.
When you have a firm understanding of some common cultural values in the U.S., you will be able to communicate more successfully when you are here.
Don't let Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts fool you!
Find out what stereotypes you have learned about American culture through your favorite movies.
6 Myths About American Culture that You Learned from Hollywood
#4- How to Bring your English to the Next Level with Music
If your old methods of studying English with a grammar book aren't working, why not try something new!
Use the music that you enjoy and listen to every day to improve your vocabulary, pronunciation, and intonation!
In this article, you will learn the three-step process that you can use to learn English through music.
Check out the article and give it a try! Let us know how it goes.
How to Bring your English to the Next Level with Music
#5- How to Negotiate with Americans...and Win!
Do you think speaking English well is enough to succeed in business in the United States?! No way!
You also need cultural intelligence and one key aspect of cultural intelligence is the ability to understand cultural differences when you negotiate.
How could Americans negotiate differently from the way you negotiate?
Check out this article to learn how assumptions regarding time, formality, status, silence, and interruptions can be totally different for you compared with your American clients or colleagues.
Want to succeed in your next negotiation in the U.S.? Get started with this article!
How to Negotiate with Americans...and Win!
# 6- Infographic: 6 Phrasal Verbs You Can Use at Work Today
Ah, those pesky phrasal verbs! How can you remember the difference between "hang up", "hang out", and "hang in"?
Most importantly, how can you use them in your everyday life at times when it really matters, like at work!
Have you ever been stuck in a meeting where a native English speaker used a word like "follow up" or "carry out" and you just couldn't figure out what he was saying?
If it hasn't happened to you yet, you can prepare now by checking out this quick and fun infographic.
Good luck!
Infographic: 6 English Phrasal Verbs that You Can Use at Work Today
Let's make 2013 a great year for building your English skills and your cultural competence! We would like to be a part of your journey! If you would like to receive our blog articles every week, click on the orange button below. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Photo credits: Dominik Syka, Laurenjordre, MiiiSH, Nestor's Blurrylife, FaceMePLS, a c o r n, Split the Kipper,
