Writing Articles: Three Areas in Which Everyone is a Qualified Expert

Three of Your Expert Areas
In the companion article post to this one, “How to Write Articles about What You Know When You Don’t Know Anything”, we discussed possibilities in four article theme topic areas. There are three distinct areas however, where absolutely everyone is a hands-up, qualified expert. These are: your home and personal travels, your teaching and learning experiences, and any personal pleasures, pastimes or pet peeves that you may have.

• Home and Travels
Where have you lived, visited, vacationed or traveled to? What’s it like to live, work, travel or study abroad? Can you speak a foreign language? How did you learn to do it? What mistakes did you make? How did you manage living in South America, Asia, Africa or Europe? What did you eat and drink? How do you prepare meals from those places? What tips or advice do you have for others who’d like to follow in your footsteps?

• Teaching and Learning
Have you ever taught something to someone else? Have you then, ever learned something unique, different or special in some way that is interesting? You can expound on that at length and in detail, can’t you? Do you have pictures, photographs or videos of these things too? Can you go back and get pictures, photographs and videos?

• Pleasures, Pastimes or Pet Peeves
What really ticks you off? How could people learn to avoid doing things like that to others? Express your opinion with ways, tips and techniques to develop the needed knowledge and skills to be better. Whether social skills like meeting people, etiquette, self-improvement, over coming fears or bad habits, among many others, there are possibly thousands upon thousands of people wanting to know what you know. Tell them by writing about it.

So You REALLY Don’t Know Anything?
With these three topic areas and questions, you can’t possibly say, “I don’t know anything.” You’ve found out several areas that you are an “expert” in which would interest others enough for you to write about. Be sure to have a look at, “How to Write Articles about What You Know When You Don’t Know Anything”, if you haven’t already. Now get to writing.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

How to Write About What You Know When You Don’t Know Anything

Write About What You Know
What to write? Well, write about what you know. Right. How can I write, I don’t know anything? Really? I’ll bet you do know something. Not only that, but I’ll even bet that you’re a near expert on one or two topics too. “Oh no I’m not”, you say. So let’s just see about that. Here are four areas with questions to ask yourself that might just help you to find out what you are an expert in that would interest others enough for you to write articles about.

Here are Four Areas Where You May be an “Expert”

• Occupations
Where have you worked? What kinds of jobs have you done? Paid or not paid doesn’t matter, but length of time on the job might. If you’ve worked as a salesman, a cook, walked dogs, cared for other people’s children, made crafts, taught something to others or just generally lived and loved, you can talk – and write about it. Been living in a cave for years, you say? Then you’re an expert on caves and cave dwelling, living in the wilderness and in the dark.

• Hobby or Special Interests
What do you like to do? Can you paint, draw or create with your hands? Do you know cars, antiques or how to cook certain types of foods? Can you sew, knit, play music, sing or hum? How about fishing, hunting, bowling, other sports or photography? Do you dance, bird watch or garden? Have a good hand at raising earthworms, identifying butterflies and insects? Do you know about dogs, cats or other types of pets? Certainly there is something you like to do that you can talk and write articles about.

• Special Skills and Abilities
Have you learned or been specially trained to do something? Fix cars, tune motorcycles? Decorate cakes, make pies or rag dolls? Can you program or fix computers? Appliances or power tools? Do you know how to catch fish or make your own fishing lures? Can you tile a roof, make a bookcase or perhaps dance Salsa or Tango?

• Life Experiences
How about your life experiences? What have you done? What has happened to you, your family and friends over the years, that has truly had an impact on you? Can you tell others how to meet famous people? Find a good marriage partner? Care for an elderly sibling, spouse or parent? Buy a house or condo? Travel on the cheap? Do you know about credit ratings, bankruptcy and personal finance? Thousands of others may be waiting to know the information you have locked up in your heart and brain.

I Don’t Know Anything
After going through this quick list of potential topic areas and questions, certainly now you’ll no longer say, “I can’t write. I don’t know anything.” Hopefully by now, you’ve found out several areas that you are an “expert” in which would interest others enough for you to write about.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

Make Your Own English Language Learning DVDs Using These Seven Simple Steps

Having Trouble Learning English?
When you find yourself having problems with learning English or some other foreign language, you can quickly and easily produce your very own language practice and study aids. How? By making your own videos and sound pronunciation practice files and putting them on a CD or DVD. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Here are Seven simple Steps for Making Your Own English Language DVDs

• Choose a Grammar Point or Other English Language Element
What do you wish to work on? Is it grammar? To improve your English pronunciation? Do you have a vocabulary list? Do you want to learn some idioms, expressions or even slang in English? You could even just use a point from a text book, a reading passage or poem, for example.

• Find a Native or Near-native English Speaker
You’ll near someone with good pronunciation and speaking skills in English to videotape or record. The person should be a native or near-native English speaker, but they do NOT necessarily need to be an English or language teacher.

• Get Permission to Record
Talk to the person or persons explaining to them why you want to record them. You should be sure to make them feel comfortable about the process without placing any pressure on them. It’s important that they are relaxed and are willing to help you.

• Prepare Your Recording Device
Before you record, check your equipment carefully. Are the batteries fully charged? Is the memory empty and ready for your new recording file? Do you understand the steps to make a good sound or audio recording using this device? You and your recording device, i.e., video camera, digital voice recorder, camcorder, etc. should be ready for the session in advance.

• Upload to a Computer
After recording your materials or video, the file needs to be uploaded to a computer. If you don’t know how to do this perhaps you can take your device to an internet café, photo shop or electronics store and have the file uploaded to a computer. It’s also important to have your video or audio file edited if necessary for best quality. Make sure the file format is readable by your computer, CD or DVD player, MP3, MP4 or other device that you might have.

• Burn the File Onto a CD or DVD
Using software like NERO, you can then burn your audio r video files onto a CD or DVD. CDs are frequently used for data and sound files. DVDs are most often used for video image files which can be quite large or not fit onto a regular data CD. You can usually get this done at one of the businesses mentioned earlier. Many photocopy centers can also burn CD or DVD files onto a disk for you.

• Use Your DVD to Practice
Now, with your finished CD or DVD, you can play and practice whatever you need, whenever or wherever you like. It can also be copied and shared with your friends or classmates. If you have any other problem areas in English, you could repeat this process and record your models, examples or correct pronunciation forms for those too.

Make Your Own Study and Learning Aids
Using these seven simple steps make your own English language learning DVDs and CDs quickly and easily. These will be most helpful to you as English language leaning, pronunciation and study aids. Not only that, it will soon become quite a lot of fun for you too.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

What to Do When Your EFL Learners Don’t Like to Read

They Don’t Like to Read?
“But teacher, I don’t like to read!” Many of my EFL learners here in Colombia chant this so many times it’s almost a mantra. Despite efforts to the contrary, elaborate bookstore displays and campaigns, “fun” reading programs, free books and materials from ELT book publishers, and all manner of promotions for reading, the fact remains. Many EFL learners just don’t like to read.

Fight Back
Almost anything you can learn, you can learn from books. That includes physical skills as well. Of course, there are many skills and areas of knowledge that you should preferably learn “by doing”, training and experience, not just from reading books. Nonetheless, a huge proportion of learning and education comes from reading books.

“Ah”, you say. “What about the internet?” I say, bring it on. Even with videos, charts, graphs, images and other pictorial and visual forms, you still need to read eventually. If you’re not reading books, then you read articles which are segments of books. Or you read short snippets and posts, which are segments of articles. Don’t get “cheeky” with me, even on the internet, no matter how “digitally enhanced” you are, you must learn and practice focused reading skills.

What You Can Do
Here are a few suggestions for reading promotion and improvement for your EFL classes and learners.

• Start learners with reading at an early age
• Set an example – Read Yourself
• Provide or allow different types of reading materials
• Allow learners some autonomy in selecting personal reading
• Teach or help learners to acquire essential vocabulary and grammar elements
• Schedule a “reading time” during class sessions
• Make reading a low-pressure, low-stress activity

In addition, you can “tie in” reading with other activity types. Use a pre-viewing reading activity before a video. Have a short reading segment before or after a TPR activity or game. Use short reading texts to reinforce grammar elements taught in your English classes. Teach and practice key lexis in context using relevant, interesting reading passages. Keep reading activities short at first. You can lengthen readings and reading time as the school term progresses.

Many EFL Learners Don’t Like Reading
Many EFL learners just don’t like to read. You can help to “soften” the impact of reading for them by incorporating short, focused readings as an integral, dynamic part of other activity types in the classroom. Slowly, but surely, you can aid in adjusting their attitude towards reading with time, patience and some solid EFL didactics practices in the English language learning class room.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, prolific writer, expert author and public speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book, "If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

Where This EFL Teaching and Learning Blog is Read : The Final Top Ten Countries

Here is a Countdown of the Final Top Ten Countries by Number of Readers

6. Spain
Some of my post-graduate studies and research were done in Barcelona, so I’m not too surprised that there is a distinctive readership from there. EFL programs, the vast majority of which also follow the Common European Framework standard, are of very high quality too. Madrid and Barcelona lead a list of 29 cities reporting readers from Spain. Other cities include Pamplona, Leon, Malaga, Cordoba, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Coslada, Hopitalet de Llobrigat, Alicante and Seville.

5. Colombia
Since I live and teach EFL in Colombia, there’s no surprise that a relatively large number of readers are from here. In my Santiago de Cali University classes, both under-graduate and post-graduate, I promote reading my blog and articles online at other sites, such as ESLbase as well. Represented thus far are Cali, Bogota, Pereira, Cartagena, Bucaramanga, Manizales and Medellin.

4. Turkey
The high number of readers from Turkey, home of the Topkapi Dagger (pictured above) was somewhat of a surprise. EFL programs at all levels are held in high esteem there according to peers with whom I’ve had contact. Without a doubt, I’ll have to visit Turkey and Istanbul – and my former classmates Kees and Shebnem. Other of the twenty cities reporting readers from Turkey include Ankara, Samsun, Adana, Bursa, Icel, Canakkele, Gebze, Trabzon, Izmir and Izmit... We'd love to hear from you.

3. South Korea
A relatively high number of readers from South Korea however, took me completely by surprise. Some of my articles and published work has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish, but so far none exists in Korean that I know of. Perhaps a reader or two from Seoul, Kwanqui, Taejon, Wonju, Songnam, Anyang, Masan or Cheongqui in South Korea would care to enlighten me?

2. United Kingdom
No surprise either, as the UK now also boasts a heavy non-English-speaking immigrant status from Eastern Europe, Africa and South America. EFL programs, obviously featuring British English elements, the vast majority of which follow the Common European Framework standard, are of very high quality. Comments, questions and topic suggestions from EFL professionals based in the UK are also highly encouraged.

1. United States of America
No surprise to me actually, with the huge number of immigrants annually from non-English speaking countries, ESL is now a vast industry in the USA. Still in its fledgling stages when I started teaching ESL nearly two decades ago, the growth and need for on-going research, investigation and forums for information and expression are continually on the rise. Comments, questions and topic suggestions from EFL professionals based in the USA are cheerfully encouraged. So far 45 states have checked in.

Questions, Ideas and Comments from Readers Always Welcome

Your questions, ideas and comments are always welcome, so please feel free to post comment or e-mil me with a question or topic of interest. The blog is now moderated to block spam, malicious and obscene content, but all constructive comments which reflect reader viewpoints and opinions are posted and made available for all. Suggestions for relevant websites, blogs and ELT products are also welcomed from all readers.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

A Countdown of the Top Ten Countries Where This EFL Teaching and Learning Blog is Read

Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico

While this English Language teaching and learning blog has actually been online for more than three years now, its popularity has dramatically risen within the past year or so. Although I originally intended to have a possible readership of a few hundred EFL teachers, mostly in Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico, the readership has now expanded to more than 120 countries and more than 2000 readers per month according to Google Analytics and data tracking software installations. It all started with articles posted online at www.ezinearticles.com when a reader e-mailed me with an article-based question. Then another came, then another and another until it became prudent for me to answer questions via detailed posts which led to the creation of this blog. And so it continues …

Here is a Countdown of the Top Ten Countries by Number of Readers

10. Mexico
As a former contributing writer for the “Teach English in Mexico” newsletter, I traveled the length and breadth of Mexico from Mexico City, Taxco, Tlaxcala and Acapulco to Hermosillo and Monterrey to Cancun, Merida, and San Cristobal de las Casas to Oaxaca, among many others. No I haven’t seen all of the country by far, but enough over several years to be well familiar with its language, culture and customs. In much of the country, English is held in very high regard. Indeed, there are English as a foreign language and/or computer technology “schools” on practically every corner in some towns. Readers come from 26 cities and towns in Mexico.

9. Indonesia
I simply had no idea of the contingent of readers from Indonesia. Principal cities of Indonesian readers include Jakarta, Malang, Surabaya, Tegal, Palembang, Yogyakarta, Gresik, Bogor, Cikarang, Pekanbaru, Bandung and seven others. Comments, opinions and input from readers in Indonesia are sincerely requested.

8. India
With English having “official language” status, it did come as a bit of a surprise that there is a contingent of readers from there. The more, the merrier, I say. Principal cities of readers from the 27 cities reported from India include New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Ghaziabad, Mahape, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Erode, Ahmedabad and 14 others. China is recruiting EFL teachers from India in increasing numbers.

7. Canada
From “North of the border” come a large cache of readers. Canada has long encouraged immigration of young professionals from around the globe, so the presence of ESL programs comes as no surprise. A whopping 34 cities reported in from RCMP country with Vancouver and Calgary leading the way.

* RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police (I knew you’d ask!)

Questions and Comments from Readers Always Welcome

Your questions and comments are always welcome, so please feel free to post comment or e-mil me with a question or topic of interest. The blog is now moderated to block spam, malicious and obscene content, but all constructive comments which reflect reader viewpoints and opinions are posted and made available for all. Suggestions for relevant websites, blogs and ELT products are also welcomed from all readers.

In the next post we'll continue the countdown to include a country which may soon boast its first ever black President. See you then.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

The Seven Most Distinctive Spoken English Language Varieties

Which English is Best?

With English continuing to develop as a principal world language, a question which often arises among EFL learners is, “Which English is best?” It can be confusing to new learners of all ages as to which one of the “Englishes” should be learned or studied. While the answer to this may depend on your needs and location, one consideration is the many varieties of English that exist and are spoken world wide.

Here are Seven Distinctive Varieties of English:

• American English
This category of English actually consists of several variations. There are recognizable variations in the spoken English of the South, the Pennsylvania Dutch, the New England region of the U.S., the Midwestern U.S. and the West coast. There is also “Black English” spoken as a distinct racial community variety of English across the USA.

• Black English (Ebonics)
You won’t have to go very far to hear this distinctive variety of English. Try the latest Rap or Hip Hop offerings or listen to interviews with black artists for the unique flair this English variety has. Grammar, lexis, idioms, expressions and vocabulary are all impacted by this and other varieties of English.

• British English
The origin of English proper, there are “common” variations of English spoken throughout the UK. The “Upper Crust” as it were, used a particular variety of spoken English known as RP or “Received Pronunciation”. RP is what the royal family and those educated at Oxford, Cambridge and other high-level universities were taught to use and speak.

• Australian English
No question here, Steve Irwin popularized Australia’s unique wildlife in a way like no other before his untimely, accidental death in 2006. Another character who brought Australian English to the forefront of public knowledge was Paul “Crocodile Dundee” Hogan in a movie and sequel bearing the same name.


• Jamaican English
Spoken English in Jamaica has always been an interesting variety for the many travelers, vacationers and visitors to this island. It’s also used in movies, documentaries and films set in Jamaica. Singer Bob Marley also contributed not only his music, but interest in the culture and spoken English variety of Jamaica as have a number of other Reggae music artists.

• English Spoken in India
A distinctive variety of spoken English is used in India. The language is taught and applied there as a sort of “lingua franca”, since there are hundreds of regionally and locally spoken languages and dialects across the Indian continent. Hundreds of movies, documentaries and other media are readily available in this variety of English.

• Varieties of Pidgins and Patois Spoken in a Number of Locations
There are unique, local or regional varieties of English spoken in a number of countries world wide. Places like Belize, the Philippines, several West Indies (Caribbean) islands like Barbados, Trinidad, the Cayman Islands and both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Guyana (formerly British) in South America and African countries where English is widely spoken, each have their own particular brand of spoken English.

English Language Needs and Location
The question, “which English is best?” usually depends on the needs and location of the EFL learner, especially when one considers the many varieties of English that exist and that are spoken world wide.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 120 countries. Get your FREE E-book,"If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.