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The Maple Leaf Rag

Mapleleaf Man

Canada

November 21, 2007

How many of you surf the Internet with a dictionary beside you? Well, I have just discovered an easy way to look up words right in your browser.

1. You need to be using Firefox. You should be using Firefox anyway because it is much safer to use than Internet Explorer. Download it from here: 

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

2. Once you have it installed and working, go here: 

 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4175

and install the plug-in or add-on for the dictionary, it's named : MSTS dictionary.

3. Once it is installed, it will ask you to restart Firefox which is normal. 

4. Your browser will open again and you will have a dictionary right there at the tip of your mouse cursor! When you see an unknown word, highlight it, right click it and choose LOOK UP. The meaning of the word is right there on your screen! How cool is that?

Enjoy this tip! YBTYTYA (You're better than you think you are!) 

04:04 AM Nov 25 2007

yana011

yana011
Philippines

 hey.. mapleleaf man your absolutely right! Mozilla Firefox is much safer than internet explorer. the latter is corrupted withe many viruses. When I'm using that before I've encountered many problems! give me headache! then I consulted it in a computer technician and installed the Firefox. Now I don't have to worry again and again. Well hope you can add me up to your friends list. Anyway my elder sister work their in Toronto..

08:16 PM Nov 21 2007

inez_lula

inez_lula
Indonesia

 Dear Brian, It's nice to meet you here, I like your tips and your videos are awesome, it helps for improving my english, I add you as my friend and hope that you accept my invitation. You are such a good teacher for me. Cheers, inez

03:19 PM Nov 21 2007

Charlescaky
Taiwan

well

actually, if you successfully install the dictionary, there is a green symbol (small picture) like a book (dictionary)located at the right lower angle on your browser....

drag your mouse to the green book and click your mouse on the left button, then drag to the "Help".....

it'll show how to use the dictionary

COOL~~~~~~~~

 

10:14 AM Nov 21 2007

Jeanette__

Jeanette__
Austria

That's a great thing... thanks for the tip. I directly installed it and it is great, because the explenation is also in english and so you learn other denotations for the word.

I really like your tips you publish here.

<33 

November 21, 2007

I was talking to a friend of mine at work on the weekend. I asked her how she had learned English when she came to Canada. Her native tongue is Portuguese, she is from Brazil, and I was curious about how she learned English.

She told me that she first tried to watch CNN but the titles at the bottom didn't always match what was on the screen. Finally, she tried the 'closed caption' setting on her TV set. This is the one that is for people who are hard of hearing. Titles are on the bottom of the screen which, more or less, match the words of the speaker. Well, if seems this didn't work quite as well as she had hoped. It seems she was watching regular shows. 

At some point she decided to watch children's television and it was all very cool from then on. The children's shows use easy words and the sub-titles are excellent and move along with the words the speakers are saying. She found this to be the easiest and most efficient way to learn English. Once she got a start, and could listen to the flow of the language, she found it so much easier.

I've suggested watching movies before, with the sub-titles turned on  but maybe, if you are just beginning, kid's shows might just be the answer. Check it out. I know, I know the shows are silly and basic but that's a good place to start. Later on, you can move on to something more age appropriate. 

Keep it up! You're better than you think !

(I had to edit the first post because of a SPAM comment. Oh do I hate SPAM!)

06:00 AM Nov 21 2007

DS

DS
Algeria

Thank you to take time to help us to improve our english (there is a lot of "to" in this sentence)by your suggestions and your videos (i watched only one, i will watch the others later).

I discovered that my english is not as bad as i thought cause i undrestood all what you said in your blog (may be i didn't undesratand 2 or 3 words),it's a great feeling Smile.

You use easy words and i like that.

Thank you again.

04:53 AM Nov 21 2007

yoyi0124
China

 good suggestions, I tried kid's programm, not often, but intresting and the speed is appriopriate

November 18, 2007

Recently I've been getting quite a few messages here on Ebaby. If you have written to me and you haven't received a reply yet, you will. I just don't have a lot of time right now but this week I will try to answer everyone. If you still don't receive a reply, write to me again! Don't be shy, just give me a little wakeup call.

In the coming week I will have some time to myself and I'm planning another video. If anyone has any topics or suggestions for my videos, let me know. I've been thinking of doing something simple again , maybe just a tour of my house where I name  the different things in it as I go. Almost everything has at least two names, sometimes more than two. In order to increase your vocabulary you have to learn all the different names for everyday items.

When we get some snow here I will do a video outside my home to show you what it's like here in Toronto during the winter.

Keep practicing, keep reading and listening and keep smiling! You're better than you think you are.

05:29 AM Nov 18 2007

Dubai,Jewels
United Arab Emirates

 is it over?????????? tell me