There aren’t any ”proper rules” when it comes to writing. Just write. You correct later. Write. Read what you’ve written: does it make ”sense” to you? If it doesn’t: edit. It’s simple. But first, write.

There is a great challenge, and stimulation in editing (correcting). And if you don’t know how, or need some help, say something. If you stay silent, how will your voice ever be heard? How will you learn? Practice, and Assertiveness is how you improve. Only, then you will succeed. Soon, writing, and English, will be just like a piece of cake for you.

Not just the birthday kind; but any kind, because you don’t just have to eat cake on birthdays. Just like you don’t have to be an American to learn English. Or a chef to cook. All you need to have is passion.

Writing is fun; and English is too. And when combined, it’s double roller coaster ride. Triple, if you include reading.

So, there are no rules, or inhibitions. Write. Write, and do not focus too much on formalities. Formalities can come afterwards. Picking up a pen, and/or reading a book is the beginning.  Your confidence will grow, AND you’ll grow in love with the concept.

It’s all in good fun! Soon, you’ll have a knack for the English language. You want to learn English? Practice writing it.

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Phrasal verbs used in American English idioms are fascinating to our students at PC TECH.  Here are more examples, with even more to follow in the near future:

“A thief broke into our apartment last night.”  [Illegally force one’s way into a building or car]

“The sales associate said that I should break my new car in for a few days.”  [Not drive too fast]

“I was talking with my friend when my little brother broke in .”  [Interrupt]

“Sorry, I have to break away for a few minutes.”  [Leave for a short time]

“Did you hear that Joe and Sylvia broke up?”  [End a relationship]

“I broke up when she told me that joke!”  [Laughed heartily]

“Ten convicts broke out the prison last week.”  [Escaped]

“He was brought up in the city.”  [Raised as a child]

“Please bring that topic up at the next meeting.”  [Discuss it]

“I think I should call around to find a new apartment.”  [Make a number of phone calls]

“Call me back tomorrow and I will have an answer for you.”  [Return my phone call]

“They called the baseball game off because of rain.”  [Canceled the game]

“The teacher called on me often.”  [Asked for an answer or comment]

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

The Chinese New Year is tomorrow. And both, students, and teachers at PC TECH will be exploring Chinatown this Friday, January 31st, in commemoration of the holiday. The Chinese new year is a very important traditional Chinese holiday. Also, known, in China, as the Spring Festival. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deities and ancestors.

This Friday, PC TECH will be at the Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival, also honoring The Chinese New Year. The event will take place in Chinatown’s main streets. In Roosevelt Park (between Grand & Hester Streets), from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. First, will come the firecracker ceremony, then the parade through the streets; that begin from Roosevelt Park. There will be lion dances, drumming, and dancing! Also, giveaways, and contests; — in addition to the rocket setting, and fire cracking. 😀

The 15th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival will take place February 2nd, on a Sunday. It will start at 1:00 pm. This parade usually winds throughout Chinatown down Mott, along East Broadway, up Eldridge Street to Forsyth.

”The spectacle features elaborate floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances galore, Asian musicians, magicians, acrobats and procession by local organizations. Over 5,000 people are expected to march in the parade, which will start at Mott Street and promenade through practically every street in of Chinatown, finally dispersing at Broome/Forsyth. The parade is expected to conclude at 3 pm, at which time an outdoor cultural festival will take place in Sara D. Roosevelt Park featuring more performances by musicians, dancers and martial artists.”

http://gonyc.about.com/cs/holidays/a/chinesenewyear.htm

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Just by reading, we will be learning how to write. And just by writing, we learn to read. So, just read, and write. Just do it. It’s a win-win process.

Both writing, and reading is a stimulating process. It is a perfect way to perfect your English. And familiarize yourself with it. You want to learn English? Read and Write. I doubt you’ll regret the words…the stories you’ll discover. Not only will you be feeding your mind, by learning grammar, and discovering writing tips; but you’ll be feeding, — and nourishing your soul. It’s intensely beneficial. Man, what a revolution….

Read, read, read, read!

Write. Write. Write. And Write.

It’s wonderful advice. It’s the way to go. It’s a part of the joys of learning English…

“The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the smarter you grow. The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice, when speaking your mind or making your choice.” Seen at Sebastopol library.

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City 

There are 26 letters in the English Alphabet.  Five of the letters are vowels. Twenty-one are consonants.

Each letter may be written as a Upper case (A), or a Lower case (a).

Here is a complete list of the English Alphabet, and it’s vowels:

English Alphabet

Upper Case: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Lower Case: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v x y z

Vowels and Consonants

Vowels: a e i o u

Consonants: b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Phrasal verbs used in American English idioms are fascinating to our students at PC TECH.  Here are some examples, with more to follow in the near future:

“I want to ask her out, but I am too shy.”  [To ask someone to go on a date, such as dinner or a movie]

“If you need to borrow a pencil, just ask around.”  [Ask several people]

“Please back your car up so I can open the door.”  [Put the car in reverse]

“Make sure you back up your computer files often.”  [Save copies of your files]

“I will back you up when you ask the boss for a raise.”  [I will support you]

“Don’t back down when the boss refuses.”  [Don’t take “No” for an answer]

“When I asked again for a raise, the boss blew up.”  [Got very angry]

“We have to blow up a lot of balloons for the children.”  [Fill the balloons with air or helium gas]

“If you don’t have your car serviced regularly, it may break down on the road at the worst time.”  [It may stop working]

“The suspect broke down when the police presented him with the evidence.”  [Became very upset]

“To solve that math problem, you will have to break it down into smaller parts.”  [Divide it into small sections]

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Ever wondered how many English words there are in the world?

Well, according to Oxford Dictionaries, there is no sensible answer to that question.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/words/how-many-words-are-there-in-the-english-language

Modern English has assimilated languages from all over the world. The growth and grammar of English is not regulated. Much like Wikipedia, order seems to rise out of accepted usage. Great debates have taken place when a new edition of a dictionary includes new usage. There is agreement that the number of English words is growing. But there is no agreement of the rate of growth.

(http://www.slaw.ca/2013/09/13/why-english/)

As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York, making itthe most linguistically diverse city in the world.^[7][8] English remains the most widely spoken language, and New York is the largest English-speaking city in the world, although there are areas of Queens and Brooklyn in which up to 20% of people speak English only a little or not at all.

Many of the worlds top films, books, and music are published, and produced in English! This is one of the many great reasons to jump on the English wagon. You will gain access to a great wealth, and understanding of entertainment and the arts!

So, in light of Shakespeare: Why not thou learn English?

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Students come to PC TECH to improve their English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.  Many times this can lead to rewarding jobs and careers.  (Bigger salaries may or may not be the result.)

Kevin from Normandy, France loves music and would like a career in that field:

Since I was young, I have been playing keyboard and guitar.  I also learned how to sing and rap.  I would like to be an artist.  It requires a lot of training and talent.  Maybe I have it, but I think I can be better as an artist.

[Actually] I really want to be a producer, working in a recording studio, meeting with other artists, composing music, and becoming the greatest producer in France!  If I became a great producer, I can produce for myself.  Obviously if I make enough money, I will do a lot of business around the world.

Souleymane from Burkina Faso is already a teacher and shares these thoughts.  [He is a math teacher in his country] :

My ideal job is teaching for many reasons.

Teaching means sharing.

It means sharing knowledge and experience; sharing culture between teacher and student.

When we teach, we learn because we have to study more.

Teaching can earn a high salary and it’s not dangerous.

For these reasons, my ideal job is teaching.

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

There are many ways of giving and receiving when it comes to the English language. Whether you’re speaking, reading, teaching, or learning English, — you are giving and receiving. Here are some examples. These are called prompts.

”Hello. How are you today?”

”I’m very well. Thank you.”

”Where is your birthplace?”

”Montpellier, France. It is a Mediterranean city in the south of France.”

”I have a pen. Do you have one?”

‘‘Yes.”

Simple talk like this can help you learn English. This is called engaging. Engaging is fun stimulating. And when you participate in engaging, you will be giving and receiving. Here is another example. A short moral story….

There was a king who had one eye and one leg. He asked all the painters to draw a beautiful portrait of him. But none of them could. How could they paint him beautifully with the defects in one eye and one leg. Eventually one of them agreed and drew a classic picture of the King. It was a fantastic picture and surprised everyone. He painted the King aiming for a hunt. Targeting with one eye closed and one leg bent…

(http://www.lessonsoftheday.com/2013/01/a-short-moral-story.html)

What can you learn from this story? What was it about?

 PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

A future Broadway script writer perhaps, a PC TECH student has put together a rather imaginative script.  Notice the informal style in the frequent use of slang and expressive punctuation.

The writer imagines a dream connected with a TV show:

3:00 AM.  Still awake, I’m watching this odd show on TV…

Robin: Finally, I found you, Jerry!  Do not even try to run away this time.  Give me my money back.  You owe me ten dollars.  Give it [to me] now.

Jerry:  Come on, dude!  I’ll give you your money back, so relax.  Here… Take a [piece of] candy.

R:  Don’t scam me with your candy again.  This is the tenth time you gave me your candy; you find an excuse to flee.

J:  Hey, I’m not a swindler.  Please take it, my friend.  I know you like these candies.  So as you said, I owe you ten dollars, right?

R:  Yes… Go ahead.

J:  Alright, so it’s the tenth [piece of] candy I gave you.  These candies cost $1.50 each, so now you owe me five dollars.  Give it to me now, dude!  Don’t turn [away]…give it now!

R:  But…I thought this candy was free.  You know what?  Forget about it!

J:  [No way!]  If you don’t give me five dollars, I’ll call the police, Robin.

R:  OK OK…Here’s your money.  Please take it.  Don’t call the police.

J:  Alright… I’m really upset about your behavior.  You can’t scam me, dude.  Now get out of my way, swindler!

 PC TECH: English Language School in New York City