Tag: English

Write e-mails in English

Em por Arnaldo Gunziem PensamentosDeixe um comentário

It’s been 3 years since I write e-mails only in English with some friends and coleagues, as Andreia Pimentel, Antenor Simão, Diego Piva and others – more recently, Whats’app also.

 

It is an useful way to practice a non-native language.

 

Other tips:

– In every search in Google, search it in English.

– Modify the settings of your computer and cell phone to English

– Schedule lunch were Portuguese is forbidden.

– If there are two books, the original in English and the translation in Portuguese, choose the first one.

– Music in other language is a powerful way to learn new words and pronunciation.

 

More good ideas? Leave in the comments.

Small tips to make English a habit

Em por Arnaldo Gunziem Iniciantes, PensamentosDeixe um comentário

These are some small, but useful, tips to make English (or other language of your choice) a habit.

  • Word of the day: There are free services in the internet that offer a daily free word, sent by e-mail. An example is Transparent Language website.

WordDay.JPG

 

  • In every search in Google, try to search it in English.
  • Write e-mails in English with some friends of yours. I started to do it months ago, and even now I write in English to some people.
  • Modify the settings of your computer and cell phone to English, instead of Portuguese.
  • Schedule lunch were Portuguese is forbidden.
  • If there are two books, the original in English and the translation in Portuguese, choose the first one.
  • Music in other language is a powerful way to learn new words and pronunciation. If it is too hard to understand, try children music, these are easier to comprehend.

The goal of these tips is to make English a habit, to think in English.

 

 

English as first language

Em por Arnaldo Gunziem Geopolítica, InovaçãoDeixe um comentário
This post is exceptionally written in English.
The Japanese company Rakuten (http://global.rakuten.com/en/) is an online marketplace similar to Ali Express.
Rakuten uses English as the first language, instead of Japanese, inside the company. Official documents, reports, e-mails, everything is written in english.
English.jpg
In the long term, this is great for the company, because it increases the workers proficiency in English and facilitates business with the rest of the world. It is also good for workers, because they will develop this important skill in an increasingly connected world.
global-network-languages-langwitches.jpg
But, of course, in the short term Rakuten faced a lot of problems and resistance. Take a look on their challenges:

 


In Brazil

In Brazil, for large companies, I believe something similar is impossible. The illiteracy in English is the rule in Brazil.
But we can try this with our friends and people we know can understand English. We can communicate with them only in English, at least in e-mails.
21st-century-flux-wordle.JPG
Try this. From now on, for at least one year, select some friends and close colleagues and use only English in the communication with them. It is a worth exercise.
Update (in July 2018):
I began to write in English to a lot of people in 2016, and since them to now, some gave up, but some keep writing to me in English.
The habit is a very powerful tool, and this is one way to make habits shift to our favor.