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Gil Lavitov asked:




ESL Grammar Checker is actually a ‘personal’ English writing and proofreading assistant. Learning how to write correct English requires time and effort, however technology can easily help us on achieving that goal. Want to learn how technology can help you on improving your writing skills? Read the following article.

Basic introduction

ESL Grammar Checker is designed to ensure that your English writing matches the basic grammar and punctuation rules. Most of these solutions instantly identify and correct your writing errors and enable you to further edit your writing. These solutions use Natural Language Processing algorithms, in simple words these algorithms are constantly being ‘fed’ with ‘correct’ text which is being later compared with your analyzed text. In most cases these solutions enables us to do the following: text editing, grammatical check, correct spelling, and proper punctuation.

Can it make our life better?

By using this automatic proofreading technology we gain the following:

Helping with critical writing assignments such as job and patent applications. Improving our writing style. Enabling us to better express our thoughts and ideas.

There are probably many other benefits that are not covered here, as this innovative technology is constantly moving forward, bringing us new ideas and additional solutions that help us on improving our Writing abilities.

Summary

ESL Grammar Checker transforms our writing assignments better and effective. This technology not only helps us on improving our writing skills, but transforming our writing assignments interesting and fun. Although it brings many challenges to software developers, we can expect this advanced tool to further develop itself, simply because writing is one of the most important tools that help us with almost any aspect in life.



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Gil Lavitov asked:




ESL Proofreading Software enables us not only write better English, but improve our communication skills. Due to the fact that most communication today is done by writing, we easily notice the increasing use of advanced language writing, editing and processing tools. Want to know more about “personal” proofreading tools? Read the following review.

Basic introduction

ESL Proofreading Software helps you on writing English properly while avoiding common grammar and punctuation mistakes - it automatically identifies, edits, and corrects your writing. Smart proofreading and grammar correction solutions rely on sophisticated engines and dynamic databases. They process your writing, compare it, and finally fix it. Sophisticated language processing solutions usually offer the following: editing and proofreading, checking on spelling and typos, and most importantly analyzing our grammar writing.

Important benefits

Let’s summarize the main benefits and advantages:



Improving sentence construction with correct grammar and punctuation.

Improving the image we want to project through our writing.

Improving our inter-personal communication.



There are probably many other benefits that aren’t mentioned here, as this technology keeps improving, bringing us new improvements and ideas that help us on improving our Grammar writing and proofreading skills.

Quick summary

ESL Proofreading Software is a great way to enhance our writing capabilities and improve our written based communication. Until today we trusted our conventional word processors to help us with spelling errors, but unfortunately it couldn’t help us with grammar. Undoubtedly we can expect this innovative technology to further develop itself, for one simple reason: writing is among the most significant tools that help us with almost any aspect in life.



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Five Star Speakers and Trainers asked:

Seven Tips For Selecting Speakers in Troubled Economic Times

By Lori Turec, SVP Business Development & Event Management FIVE STAR Speakers & Trainers (http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/)

With all the details that go into planning and executing a professional event, booking keynote and break-out speakers can seem like just another headache … plus with budgets tighter than ever before, is the motivational speaker (http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/international-speakers-trainers-bureau/national-speakers-bureau-glossary/motivational-speaker-defined.htm) worth the investment?

In the spirit of full disclosure, let me say that I work for a speakers bureau so I am not an unbiased party. However, the reason I came to work at a bureau was because I’ve been to so many events in my career where the keynote speaker (http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/international-speakers-trainers-bureau/national-speakers-bureau-glossary/keynote-defined.htm) really helped make the entire event a much more memorable and valuable experience. So, if you find the right person for your group the return on the investment can be measurable.

Here’s 7 tips for how to get the most out of your keynote speaker selection:

1. Listen to Your Audience BUT really HEAR them …

2. Trust Your Gut

3. Video Is Only Part of the Process

4. Have an Open Mind

5. Verify, Verify, Verify

6. Get More Value for Your Money

7. Reduce Risk

1. Listen to your audience, but really hear them. If you ask your internal or external client what he/she is looking for, they may answer in the moment. “We need a sports star … we want someone funny … we need to make people accountable … we need to reward our best performers and have fun”. Problem is that this is not enough information. You need to know more to make sure the match is right. Ask the why questions. Ask how the speaker’s words will make a difference to the bottom line … ask the age-old consultant question - what will success look like for you a month after the event? You will be shocked at how few people will have thought about this expectation even though it is mission critical to long-term results.

2. Trust Your Gut. If you think you’ve found a good speaker but something seems little off, listen to that inner voice. Too many leadership speakers say yes when they should say no. It is not that they are liars, they are very eager to please and get the job. They really think that they can do it, but depending on the request and the motivational speaker current workload and skill set they may be biting off more than they can chew. Your audience may not even realize that there was a disconnect but you will know. Trust your gut if you feel that you are not getting exactly what you were promised.

3. Video is great. But it is not everything. I’ve heard of professional speakers being de-selected because the message was too consumer based simply because the video was to a consumer sales organization. I’ve seen great speakers not selected because of poor quality video. The truth is that video is a tool. But just as you don’t build a house using only a hammer, don’t select a speaker based only on the video. Ask for references, talk to people who have worked with the speaker before - a bureau is helpful in this way because references are always going to be skewed positive but someone who is neutral may have different experiences to share.

4. Have an Open Mind. Just as you should Trust Your Gut, it is also important to have an open mind. I often include a “wild card” selection on the web proposals that I prepare because even though people tell me that they only want X, invariably they decide they really love Y. By keeping an open mind, you may learn about more great options that will be a better fit. If not for this event, then for another event.

5. Verify, Verify, Verify! What that means is be sure to think about everything that you want at your event and verify that the keynote speaker is willing and able to provide that service. For example - when you book an athlete, don’t assume that you can ask for autographs. Don’t assume that they speaker can stay for a meet and greet, don’t assume they will get there hours before they speak or that you can video tape that speaker without permission. There are several standard things to consider and some special requests. Get what you need documented in the Agreement so there are no surprises later. Also, don’t forget to make sure the speaker signs the Agreement! You’d be surprised how often this detail is missed.

6. Get More Value for Your Money - Yes, in troubled economic times you may be able to get a speaker to negotiate fee. BUT sometimes that leaves you with a speaker who is not eager or motivated to do his or her best work. Most speakers know that an organization is not likely to re-book the same person 5 to 10 times in a year. However, a bureau does have that leverage with speakers and can use it on your behalf — at no extra cost to you. Also, work with your bureau partner to get more for the money - ask for free or reduced prices on books, ask to only see speakers who are in the same city as your venue to save on Travel and Expenses, ask for a half-day and get consulting or a VIP meet and greet … whatever makes sense. Some speakers simply will not negotiate on fees. They take one best offer and either say yes or no. They don’t play a game. BUT they will add value and that is a win/win.

7. Reduce Risk - OK, this one is a shameless plug, but given the state of the airline industry today it is getting to be a bigger and bigger issue. In the event that something happens and your motivational speaker cannot get to your event … if you book direct what are your options? You probably already have paid a deposit to your keynote speaker, which will take time to get back and more importantly what are you going to do with that big 90 minute gap in the agenda? Reduce your risk by working with a trusted partner who has access to thousands of options and can help fill that slot with an approved speaker with very little notice - sometimes less than 24 hours. You take out many types of insurance to make sure you are covered for your event emergencies. Consider this partner as a free insurance against the loss of a speaker!

Overall, we still like meeting together. It is a human element. We are energized by each other’s ideas and by the fresh perspective we gain away from the daily routine. That’s a good thing for all of us. Technology is growing and will continue to change and enhance how we do business but hearing from those who can motivate, inspire and teach us … reminds us all why we got into this business in the first place.

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Stephen Stocker asked:


There are times of the day when special activities such as ESL classroom games are very appropriate. Although the daily school timetable varies from country to country, it is usual for children aged five to nine to have a playtime break during the morning. They stop for lunch around noon and return to class for a time during the afternoon. Regardless of the schedule, many will likely be able to stay on task until the first break but there will be some who sit and dream and others who disturb their friends. The class time directly after the morning break is good learning time. It’s a good time for the teacher to introduce the more difficult parts of the program. The last half hour before lunch, however, is a tired, very low energy time, a time when ESL classroom games can help. The afternoon follows a similar pattern to the two morning periods.

We can assume that in most countries the school day has about three low energy times that everyone feels: children feel it, and teachers feel it. It doesn’t matter if you are teaching the same children in an ESL class all day or if you are seeing them for a short period of time in an English Foreign Language class in their home country. These low energy times are the most challenging for teachers. ESL classroom games can help teachers and students learn through these times.

For children who are beginning to speak English, here is an ESL classroom game that you can prepare. Find pictures of things you have been talking about in the program you are using or in a magazine. Cut them out and you are ready to play!

ESL Classroom Game 1

Give each student a small piece of paper. Hold up one picture and ask one child to name it. (You might want to review the names of all the pictures you are going to hold up before you start.) If the child is right, let them have the picture on their desk for the duration of the game and stamp their small piece of paper with a picture or draw a star on it. If the student is wrong then put the picture behind the others in the pile. Continue with the other pictures. Pay particular attention to the children who are insecure. Ask them about pictures that you think they will know. As they gain confidence they’ll be more successful. Sometime the fear of making a mistake overwhelms them. Another approach is to have the children answer in pairs. A good follow-up activity for this ESL classroom game is to give each child one of the pictures and have them draw it on their small piece of paper and print its name under it.

ESL Classroom Game 2

Give one or two pictures plus a small piece of paper to each student. They should all be given the same number of pictures. They are to listen while you say a sentence about one of the pictures. The student who has the right picture holds it up and gets a stamp or star on their paper of book. This can be followed by having them draw the picture on their small piece of paper and print a sentence or word about it.



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