Article: Types of English Writing ©2006 Michael Krigline, MA I’ve noticed that non-native English teachers in Asia often push students to use colorful adjectives and complicated sentences, but most American writing aims to be clear and simple. This handout presents … Continue reading →
Have you ever wondered what your “grade” really means? ⇔ Article: What are Grades? ©2003 Michael Krigline, MA When I asked my students to say what a grade is, they responded: an award for hard work (3%) a reflection of student … Continue reading →
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Snoopy’s Christmas); www.EFLsuccess.com Story: In much of the world, you can easily see Snoopy on clothes, handbags, jewelry, and much more, but did you know that this family dog is part of a popular comic-strip family? … Continue reading →
An introduction to one of the most popular symbols of Christmas ⇔ Holiday: Who is Santa Claus? ©2020 Michael Krigline, MA; EFLsuccess.com ⇔ Underlined terms are explained in the vocabulary section below. Santa Claus is not so much a person as … Continue reading →
Finding Nemo, www.EFLsuccess.com Story: A “down under” undersea cartoon adventure. After tragedy makes Marlin (a clownfish) an overprotective father, his only surviving son (Nemo) rebels, and is captured off Australia’s Barrier Reef by a Sydney dentist. While Nemo and new fish-friends … Continue reading →
Steel Magnolias; www.EFLsuccess.com Story: Mix beauty-salon gossip, family love, a protective mother, a pretty wedding, a new baby, the Easter rabbit, Christmas lights, a funeral, and a big dog, and the result is “the funniest movie ever to make you cry.” … Continue reading →
Article: The Advent Season ©Michael Krigline, MA (2008), EFLsuccess.com⇔ An introduction to traditions related to the four weeks before Christmas⇔ Today’s Christmas traditions can be grouped into two categories: a secular winter holiday (Santa, gifts, snow, Christmas tree) and a … Continue reading →
British writer CS Lewis was an Oxford Don, Cambridge Professor, and best-selling author of fiction and non-fiction. He faithfully answered every letter sent to him, and many of his letters have been published. The following was a reply to a school-girl in … Continue reading →
Article: Choosing an English Name ©Michael Krigline, MA (2007) Chinese names mean something. Your parents probably chose your name because they liked the meaning, and liked the way it sounded. In most cases, every Chinese person can look at your … Continue reading →
God’s Not Dead; www.EFLsuccess.com Story: Josh is a pre-law student at an American university. His philosophy professor asks all students to sign a paper saying “God is dead,” but Josh refuses to violate his conscience and submit, even though his stubborn … Continue reading →
Patch Adams, www.EFLsuccess.com Story: In a mental hospital, Patch learns (from fellow patients) that “if you focus on the problem, you can’t see the solution,” and this inspires him to apply his brilliant mind to the field of medicine. In medical school … Continue reading →
Chariots of Fire, www.EFLsuccess.com Story: The first China-born Olympic medalist was Eric Liddell (born in Tianjin, China). This film tells the story of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, leading up to the 1924 Olympics. Along the road to victory they face … Continue reading →