Catchphrases Fieldcore a great company I worked for, uses " Field Services Focused on World-Class Execution", a slogan to attract customers. Internal catchphrases are even more concise, they include words like 'Safety, Integrity, Boldness' or even shorter statements like 'Simple & Nimble'. If the catchphrase easily translates in the company's elevator pitch it is a good one. It functions as a memory aid and marketing tool. Equally important, it promotes company identity for

Blast from the past. How fun is it if you have not seen someone for a long time and you run into an old acquaintance. A ghost from the past can really bring back many memories. A blast from the past is another way of saying this. A blast being described as a gust of wind, an explosion or a shockwave is another way to trigger your memory from something that happened in the past. It can be either a reoccurring situation or person resurfacing as a surprise, bringing back good or

Recently I watched several talks from Lera Borodistky, "how language shapes the way we think". She is a cognitive science professor and her explanation about our perception of time and how this influences our thinking is enlightening. A much-debated sentence also during my business years is: "Next week Wednesday's meeting is moved forward 2 days". The answer is not straightforward and ambiguous. Some will think the meeting is on Friday and others say it will take place Mon

This week I am tracing back the word folly. I t is a noun that popped up during my Italian lesson when I was trying to decipher what "follia" meant in English. An absurd idea was the description, and the word follies surfaced immediately at the tip of my tongue. Follies are architectural fantasy structures to romanticise English and French gardens in the 18th century. However true, I realised though that human-made grottos, cascades, and fantasy towers occurred much earlier.

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are the components of the SWOT analysis. It is a well-known tool used in business to support effective decision-making. Can we apply this to learning English? I am sure you can. Let's start this journey from the point of view that an individual chooses to learn a second language post-high-school age. The SWOT analysis lists the pro and cons of why you should or shouldn't pursue learning the language. Even if there are threats

The expression 'mover and shaker' caught my attention when the term was used in a documentary describing a self-idolising narcissist. At first, I thought this is an odd application for this expression. However, in the context that the individual saw himself as a self-made leader, it made some sense. Till today I associated the expression to business and it is best described as individuals with a lot of energy, powerful, who initiate change and influence events. Without any pr

It is a fact that spending time can be a battle. If you have a lot of time on our hands you could be less effective, but as you have too little you have to become more resourceful to use it wisely. In the business world to streamline efforts, various techniques are introduced to clarify responsibilities ensuring optimization of both time and resources. An example, there is a new HR IT system being introduced across 15 different countries. A project to design, customize, and

Oh no, you think another story about how to overcome the anxiety of staying home all the time, but fear not, it is and it isn’t. I am certainly not a psychologist and apart from some regular yoga I follow online, I am not doing anything else to relieve some tension. So why did I choose the title, well, because compared to learning Italian, English grammar seems so simple and straightforward. I questioned myself why is speaking English such a hurdle for some. I have been think

Holiday, normally a great relief and looked forward to with great anticipation. My daugther just finished her last school day “online” before Easter and has now over 1 week off, not knowing whether she will return to online lesson or school, most likely online. Usually, we would be in a frenzy, packing bags, finishing off emails, arranging for the cat to be looked after, last-minute hotel booking if travelling long distances by car. However, this time an attempt to feel the e

Speaking another language is a challenge, but a very rewarding ambition. As soon as you "utter" the first words to a native speaker and you receive an answer that you expected or the right action follows, that is truly the best motivator to continue learning a language. How often do you go out as a beginner with a “ self made script”, for example, to buy something? Very proudly you produce the first 2 sentences, which then triggers a waterfall of questions and comments and yo