As you may remember, every second Saturday we take the time to look at a poem from English or American literature. This week I am sharing with you a poem by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (whose poem, ‘Paul Revere’s Ride’, we looked at in Lesson #187). 🖋️ As I thought about this poem […]
Lesson #229: Reading for Appreciation: ‘A Psalm of Life’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Read More »
🍁 Since autumn (or fall, as it is known in Canada and the USA) is my favourite season of the year, I have included several poems and literary passages in recent lessons on this topic. 🍂 I have yet another poem in autumn to share, one by the Welsh poet R. S. Thomas (1913-2000) called ‘A
Recently, I listened to a thought-provoking podcast featuring Italian educator Lucrezia Oddone, where she discussed the importance of HANDWRITING texts that you would like to memorise. She says that when you write a text by hand, you are fully present and paying attention to every word you write. Compared to typing alone, handwriting is a
Lesson #112: Can Handwriting Actually Help You with Your English? Read More »
ADVANCED LEVEL While walking in our garden this morning, these russet leaves reminded me of another Jane Austen classic, Persuasion (1818). Have you read it or seen a movie version of it? Anne Elliot, the main character, is both attentive to others and sensitive to the beauty of nature. In this symbolic passage, she walks
Lesson #105: Reflections on nature (and literature) in Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ Read More »
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL I was going through some of my handwritten notes on the origin of the English proverb, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ ✍️ This is a common saying that stresses the importance of eating fruit regularly, especially apples. It seems that the saying originated from Pembrokeshire, a region known for its
Lesson #103: ‘An apple a day …’ An English Idiom and its Origin Read More »