Tutoring English, short, uncommon words are always interesting. The tutor mentions purlieu. purlieu (noun): the region beyond a place; the surroundings of a city or town. Source: Barber, Katherine, et al. Oxford Canadian Dictionary of Current English. Don Mills: Oxford…

Tutoring English, you deal with theme and mood. The tutor reflects on The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Back on October 27 I attended the Rocky Horror Picture Show, presented at the Tidemark Theatre by Isolde and Peach. Of course it…

Tutoring English, vocabulary is always interesting. The tutor mentions rankle. rankle (verb): to irritate or cause resentment, perhaps continually. Her older sister’s privileges rankled her. Source: Mish, Frederick C. (editor). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Barber, Katherine et al.…

Tutoring English, the way words sound is important. The tutor mentions a pattern he’s noticed. Lately repeating sounds, but with different meanings, have caught my attention, such as the following: She walked along a long building. Here’s another example: The…

Tutoring English, uncommon words – especially short ones – are of particular interest. The tutor mentions vaunt. vaunt (verb): to praise or brag about He vaunts his chili. Source: Mish, Frederick C. (editor). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Barber,…

Tutoring English, sources are varied. The tutor mentions a great one for the word moot. In his song “Jessie’s Girl,” Rick Springfield says I want to tell her that I love her But the point is probably moot. I was…

Tutoring English, homonyms are always interesting. The tutor mentions the pair cue and queue. cue (noun): signal to act or how to behave. queue (noun): line-up of individuals waiting their turn for service, entry, or exit. Source: Barber, Katherine et…