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“I think THE KING's SPEECH is a perfect movie!”  So says my friend Lisa, and I couldn’t agree more. Lisa continues, “Maybe prejudicing that opinion was hearing its Oscar nominated screenwriter, David Seidler, tell how his "stammer" started him writing the screenplay 30-years ago.”  No flashy special effects to get in the way of the drama between two of the most unlikely of partners.  It highlights how the effects or outcomes of one person’s actions can affect or influence another’s life so dramatically, so positively.  It highlights how everyone, no matter their station in life, can overcome obstacles. Imagine that!         

This is how I feel about the unlikely path I find myself on now.  Overcoming the obstacle of changing my life's course.  It helps me to sympathize with ELLs facing the obstacles of learning a new language.  Learning how to teach English to speakers of other languages is a far cry from my 22+ years as a television producer, journalist and Broadway Stage Manager, and not something I ever expected to do.  But let me tell you, it is exactly the path I should be on and I cannot believe it has taken me this long to get here.  I am so psyched to help people learn to read, write, speak and listen in English and I hope to be able to affect a few lives positively, as well. 

Stay tuned to this blog for more.  For me, writing it ranks right up there with the exciting and dramatic path of becoming an ESL teacher.

NEW VOCABULARY

Affect – [v. uh-fekt; n. af-ekt] to exert influence to create change

Effect – [n. ih-fekt] a result or consequence

Stammer – [v. stam-er] hesitant or paused speech

Producer – [n. pruh-doo-ser] person who creates something

Path – [n. pahth] a route or track to move along
Obstacle - [n. ob-stuh-kul] something or someone blocking the way

VOCABULARY


1.  English language learners face many _________ (n. plural) in the beginning of their studies.
2.  King George VI's _________ (v. sing.) made it difficult to give speeches.
3.  We walked a steep _______ (n. sing.) up the mountain.
4.  That experience _______ (v. past tense) me very much.
5. That experience had a strong _______ (n. present) on me.
6. A _________ (n. sing.) creates television shows.

Grammar Point

What is the difference between affect and effect?

Affect - Affect with an a means "to influence," as in, "The arrows affected Aardvark," or "The rain affected Amy's hairdo." Affect can also mean, roughly, "to act in a way that you don't feel," as in, "She affected an air of superiority."

Effect - Effect with an e has a lot of subtle meanings as a noun, but the meaning "a result" seems to be at the core of all the definitions. For example, you can say, "The effect was eye-popping," or "The sound effects were amazing," or "The rain had no effect on Amy's hairdo." (http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/affect-versus-effect.aspx)

grammar exercises

      1. The applause showed how deeply the presentation had _____________ the audience.

      2. His attitude was _________________ by his upbringing.

      3. What ____________ do you think the news will have on her?

      4. No matter what he does, it will have no _____________ on me.

      5. No matter what he does, it will not __________________ me.

      6. What do you think the _______ of the decision will be?

      7. How did her son's departure _________________ Mrs. Sanago?

      8. How was the team _______________ by the loss of their coach?

      9. I was impressed by the _______________ of Churchill's words on Britain during that time.

10. Do you know what ____________ that medicine will have on you?

(Answer key below – try not to peek - http://www.lessontutor.com/eeseffect.html)

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ANSWER KEY:

      1. affected

      2. affected

      3. effect

      4. effect

      5. affect

      6. effect

      7. affect

      8. affected

      9. effect

10.  effect