TammysEnglishBlog - English Lessons, English Tutorials, Term Papers

December 13, 2019

Airtel's My Offer: Get 6GB for N1500, 9GB for N2000 and 16GB for N3000

The festive season is already here and I'm sure you'll be using more data than usual. The truth is, the normal data won't be enough for you this season; that's why you need to step up.

On Airtel you can actually get 16GB for N3000 and 9GB for N2000 as well; it all depends on what you're going to do. If you have a strong Airtel network in your location, you can either give it a shot or simply opt for the Glo Yakata Data offer.

This data offer from Airtel will work on all eligible smart devices, and it doesn't zap too much. Just make sure that you turn off applications that in the background consume more of your data.

ALSO READ: How to Borrow Data from MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile

To enjoy this offer, dial *141# and choose my offer. And what you see in the picture below will appear on your screen.

If your offer is different from mine, kindly send GET to 141. You should get a message like the one below, and your offer will look like the one above afterwards.

BUHARI'S VISA-FREE POLICY: All You Need to Know

Major-Genral Buhari went to Egypt and told them that as from January 2020 there would no longer be a visa requirement for Africans to come to Nigeria.

The Fulanis of north and west Africa, rejected and unwanted elsewhere, have finally been given what they wanted all along: a homeland of their own. They will flood Nigeria in their millions and within 5 years our demographics will change forever.

Simply put, a visa-free policy for Africans to come into Nigeria is a shameless and subtle attempt to alter the racial and religious demographics of our country and open our front door for mass Fulani, Berber, Taureg and Arab migration into our shores.

By the time they come here from all over north and west Africa and settle down, we the indigenous people of Nigeria will be a tiny minority. The next thing they will do is to implement RUGA to the letter and take our land and insist on sharia law being implemented all over the country.

It is a dangerous, self-serving and self-seeking policy which will ultimately result in great conflict, carnage, racial and religious strife and total catastrophy. In an attempt to implement an ancient agenda of Fulani hegemony and turn us into a conquered and enslaved people Buhari, his born to rule co-travellers and their vast legion of slavish sympathisers and supporters are likely to set Nigeria on fire.

You will not believe me now just as you did not believe me when I warned about the true nature of Buhari in 2015 and the grave consequences of electing him as President.

Yet my words have proved to be prophetic and just as I have been vindicated on Buhari I shall be vindicated on this matter of the grave and dangerous consequences of visa-free mass migration by vagrant, stateless and nomadic Africans into our shores.

With this irresponsible, unpatriotic, dangerous and self-serving policy, I repeat, we are playing with fire and sitting on a keg of gunpowder which will eventually explode. It will be the final nail in the coffin of a united Nigeria. May God deliver us from the coming evil.

December 08, 2019

How To Use IN, AT and ON in Reference to Time, Days, Cities Towns

Often we find problems with the use of the prepositions “in”, “at” and “on” in reference to time, days, cities, towns, etc. The following is a guide.

1. Use "in" for countries e.g. In Ghana, In Spain, etc.

2. Use "in" for capital cities/regional capitals, e.g. In Accra, In Kumasi, In Madrid, In London, etc.

3. Use "at" for towns/suburbs, e.g. At Spintex, At Kasoa, etc.

4. Use "at" to express time e.g. at 5.30pm, etc.

5. Use "in" for continents, e.g. in Africa, in Europe, etc.

6. Use "in" to introduce months, e.g. in March, in April.

7. Use "in" to introduce years, e.g. in 2016, in 1998.

8. Use "on" to introduce days, e.g. on Tuesday, on Friday.

9. Use "in" to describe a time period in the day, e.g. "in" the morning, "in" the afternoon, "in" the evening, "in" the night. (NOTE: However, we can use "at" for dawn and night. For example, “at dawn”, “at night”.

© Eric Nuamah Korankye

The Difference between a Translator and an Interpreter

These two professionals are closely related in terms of what they do; it is therefore not surprising that they are often used interchangeably. But, are they the same?

An "interpreter" is a person whose job is to change what someone is saying into the words of another language.

A "translator" is a person whose job is changing words, especially written words, into a different language.

The difference between an "interpreter" and a "translator" lies in the use of medium: interpreters translate spoken language orally, while translators translate the written word.

Example

1. Mr Peter M. Abraham serves as an interpreter in the church, a very good one at that.

2. Mildred works as a translator and editor for the news agency.

© Eric Nuamah Korankye

December 01, 2019

The Difference between IN and INTO

Sometimes, these two prepositions cause us some amount of confusion: the same way we sometimes struggle to distinguish between identical twins.

When you want to express motion/movement toward something, use “into” instead of “in.”

However, if you want to indicate a location, use “in.” There may be exceptions to this “rule,” but it works most of the time.

Example

1. Frank walked into the room. (movement)

2. The book is in the office. (location)

The Difference between "Location" and "Venue"

These words are synonymous in many contexts, but they are not always interchangeable.

A location is a particular place or position but a venue is the place where a given event is to happen.

Arguably, without the occurrence of events, all places are just locations. Similarly, it is the happenings of events that make locations to be called venues. Do these make sense?

Example

1. We have found the location of the church.

2. The venue for the match is the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

November 22, 2019

Google as "goggle" and WhatsApp as "WhatsUp": Illiterate Pronunciations in Nigeria

Why do Nigerians, including educated Nigerians, pronounce Google as "goggle" and WhatsApp as "WhatsUp"?

As I pointed out in my 2015 book titled Glocal English: The Changing Face and Forms of Nigerian English in a Global World, two "O's" either make the /ʊ/ or /u:/ sound; that's why we pronounce book as "buk," good as "gud," hood as "hud," soon as "suun" etc. What explains the choice of Nigerians to pronounce Google as "goggle," which, among other things, means to look stupidly? I'm sorry, but people sound really stupid and illiterate when they call Google "goggle."

And WhatsApp as "WhatsUP"? What's up with that? Who comes up with these grating, uneducated pronunciational habits in Nigeria? Since Nigerians don't call phone apps "ups," why do they call WhatsApp "WhatsUP"?

Yes, the inventors of WhatsApp were clearly creatively playing on the informal American English expression "what's up?" (i.e., "how are you?") in the choice of the name for the app, but the name clearly has "app," not "up," in it.

Nigerians are the only people in the whole world who call WhatsApp "whatsUp." Did people miss the letter "a" in the name of the app? What sort of mass carelessness is that? Who did this to us? Before anyone says it's about differences in accents, this isn't an accent issue. It's simply carelessness. What's difficult in saying "whatsApp" and "Guugul?

November 17, 2019

Why University Graduands Shouldn't Say “I am convoking/convocating today.”

The word convocation is most often misused. It is a noun, which means:

1. a large formal assembly, e.g., of a college or university community or senior members of a church

2. the arranging or calling of a formal meeting.

3. a ceremony held in a university or college when students recieve their degrees.

The last definition, which is the focus of this post, is most commonly used and often the intended meaning whenever convocation is implied.

The confusion, however, arises from its verb form. There is no word as “convocate,” the related verb form is “convoke.” And it present participle is “convoking.”

Also note that the verb “convoke” is not used in third sense of convocation as defined above. It means to call a formal meeting, or call people together for a meeting.

Examples

1. He convoked the leading experts on juvenile delinquency to study the situation.

2. I will be convoking them all here by 12 noon.

Convoke is a transitive verb; thus it must take an object. So, if you intend to call people to rejoice or celebrate with you on your school's convocation or on your completion of a degree programme, then the right word to use is NOT convocate, convoke, convoking, convocating.

It is totally wrong to say, for example:

1. I will be convocating today.

2. I am convocating.

3. I shall convocate today.

It is contextually and grammatically wrong to say:

1. I will be convoking today.

2. I am convoking.

3. I shall convoke today.

The sentences are also grammatically wrong because “convoke” is a transitive verb and, as such, must take an object.

It would be grammatically right (but still contextually wrong) to say:

I will convoke members of my family under this tent.

The other noun form of convocation is “convocator” (and NOT convocant), i.e., the person who calls for a formal meeting. So, you are neither a convocator nor a convocant.

The adjective is “convocative” or “convocational.” The synonyms of convocation are: assembly, assemblage, conference, congregation, gathering, or meeting.

Just as it is incorrect to say “my conference,” “my assembly,” it is also wrong to say “my convocation” since you are not the convocator, and since convocation is NOT a subject of one person.

The problem is just that most people use convocation (sense 3) the same way they use "graduation" where it is correct to say:

1. I am graduating today.

2. It's my graduation today.

However, most people, especially Nigerians, tend to localise the word “graduation” to secondary schools. There is nothing that says you shouldn't use graduation when referring to university or college. Therefore, it is safer to say:

1. Today is my graduation.

2. I am graduating today.

3. Welcome the graduand.

That is why we have the best graduating student and NOT the best convoking/convocating student(s).

November 03, 2019

How to Transfer Your Airtel Airtime to Other Network Users, and Vice Versa

The option to share your Airtel airtime with other network users is not novel. It has been available for a very long time. However, it appears most persons are not aware of it; thus the number of Airtel subscribers who make use of this service is quite few. The simple guide provided below will not only increase the number but will also teach you how to share your Airtel Airtime with other network (MTN, Glo, 9mobile) users within seconds.

This service requires a personalized password. Therefore, if you haven't used Airtel's Me2U service before, it is important you change the default password, which is 1234, to your password. To do this, via SMS, type PIN [give space] your old password [give a space] your new password, and send to 432. For example, “PIN 1234 9989” and send to 432. Don't include the quotation marks when typing the message.

Alternatively, you can:

1. Simply dial *432#

2. To change your PIN, reply with 3.

3. On the next screen, enter your current PIN, and send.

4. Next, type in your new PIN, and confirm it.

5. Your PIN will be successfully changed.

How to Send Airtel Airtime to Other Network Users

1. Simply dial *432# on your with your Airtel line.

2. Select "Airtel to other Networks" transfer by replying with 2.

3. Choose "Airtel swap" by replying with 3.

4. Type the receiver’s/beneficiary’s number. Make sure it is not an Airtel number.

5. Enter the amount you want to transfer to the number.

6. Enter your PIN, and send.

If there is any other on-screen instruction, you will have to follow it too. The Transfer will be completed immediately.

How to Transfer Airtime from One Network to the Other

If you want to transfer airtime from any other network to another network, dial *931# and follow the on-screen instructions. Dialing that allows you to transfer from your MTN line to Glo or any network or from 9mobile to Airtel and vice versa. Enjoy!

October 21, 2019

How to Keep Your Readers as a Writer

Dear writer,

Turgidity doesn't make sense all the time: the same way this paragraph doesn't make sense if you don't immediately understand the word "turgidity".

Readers are scarce on the market these days. The few who read are always trying to find reasons to dump one writer for another, so when you do find some loyal readers, do well to keep them with all your might.

Instead of using "big big" words ALL THE TIME, rather come to the level of your readers (even the unintended readers) because you write not only to please yourself or display flamboyance of language but to win their hearts and their acceptance. You write for and on their behalf because of the shared beliefs and reasons for which they read you.

Don't make your language inaccessible for the sake of being perceived as "a difficult writer to read". It is a turnoff for many readers, especially "floating" readers. Because our readers play the crucial role as end-users of your rhetorical act of writing, think more about them and less about yourself. Don't lose your identity in the process either. Create a balance! It is better to have a good number of readers with your simple language than to have only few readers with your sophisticated language. Readers are the feathers that clothe, protect, and beautify the author, the bird.

As a writer, always remember the KISS rule -- Keep it simple and short. (Don't remind me that I am guilty of the last "S"; I am still working on it.)

Next time, I will tell you more about what I mean by simple language and sophisticated language.

PS: "Turgidity" means "overly complex and difficult to understand; bombastic".

© Eric Nuamah Korankye

How to Structure a Good Lesson

A teacher is the example of what learning stands for. If you have been a teacher for many years, you have certainly gathered a wealth of experience during your career. If you are a newly qualified teacher, it is because of your knowledge that you graduated to become a teacher. In both cases, you will agree that teaching can sometimes feel like an impossible task; a tough challenge. Sometimes, students do not easily understand what is being taught. This is why teachers must make lessons clear and stimulating.

A well-structured plan is important for a good lesson

Every lesson needs a structure that outlines the plan and strategy for a good delivery and for good understanding. A good lesson must also meet the needs and abilities of all pupils. The learning objectives (what the lesson is about) and the learning outcomes (what will be known as a result of the lesson) must be clear at the beginning of the lesson for all students to understand. A good lesson has:

i. A Start

ii. A Middle

iii. An End

The Starter

The Starter is an activity to settle your students so they are ready for the lesson. This can be an activity to quieten your students down, so, allow them to sit down and reflect on a task. Examples of these include:

i. Unjumbling words.

ii. Putting sentences in the correct order.

iii. Matching up words to pictures.

iv. Correcting mistakes from a task.

A starter activity can also get your students in the mood and ready to learn. Examples of these include:

i. Asking students to recall what they learnt in a previous lesson.

ii. Asking students to describe a picture in detail.

iii. Giving students an answer and asking them to provide the question (e.g. Answer: iv. Wednesday – Question: what is the day before Thursday?)

For lesson starters to be effective, every student must be involved in the thinking or working out of answers. The teacher must avoid leaving some students uninvolved and unengaged. The teacher must also ensure that the starter is not too long so as to take too much of the time of the lesson itself.

The Middle

The Middle is the key part of the lesson. The Middle should start as soon as the class has settled and is ready to take in new learning or new knowledge. The teacher must always model or demonstrate what the students are going to learn. It is important that each student understands what they are learning. It is also important that the learning is challenging enough for each student to develop their skills. It is a good idea to set tasks for students to work in pairs or in small groups, this will give them confidence. For an inclusive lesson where every student is included, the teacher must apply differentiation.

The End

Throughout the Middle part of the lesson, it is important to give the students the opportunity to recall and reflect on what they are learning. Doing this means that the teacher is carrying out ‘mini plenaries’. It also enables the teacher to see how the lesson is going and what needs changing or addressing. Successful plenaries involve all of the students recalling and reflecting on their learning. Some examples of plenaries include:

i. Summarising what has been learnt to enable the students to understand and remember.

ii. Checking that students understand a key element of the lesson and its importance.

iii. Allowing students to evaluate their own and each other’s work.

It will be stimulating for your students to know what they are learning and what they will be able to do as a result of their learning. It is therefore important to make the learning objectives and learning outcomes clear to students at the start of each lesson.

October 20, 2019

Why You Should Say IT WAS I, not IT WAS ME

Although most persons say 'It was me.' when speaking, the correct expression is 'It was I.' Where the verb to be is accompanied by a personal pronoun forming the object of a sentence or clause, the personal pronoun must be in its subjective case. Subject personal pronouns include I, he, she, we, they. Read more about pronouns here.

It is also important to state that the verb to be (or the BE verb) has eight variants: be, am, is, are, was, were, being and been. And where any of these variants is accompanied by a personal pronoun forming the object of a sentence or clause, the subjective form of the personal pronoun should be used. It is wrong to use an object pronoun in this regard. Object personal pronouns include me, him, her, us, and them.

Please, note that you and it are personal pronouns which appear the same in both their subjective and objective forms. Thus they can function as subjects and objects in sentences. Let's look at some examples of the wrong and correct use of personal pronouns in relation to our subject matter.

Wrong Usage

1. This is him (or her).

2. It was me.

3. I am him (or her).

4. The people you saw were us.

5. Those are them.

Correct Usage

1. This is he (or she).

2. It was I.

3. I am he (or she).

4. The people you saw were we.

5. Those are they.

However, this rule has changed. It is not surprising because English, as a language, is dynamic. Most English dictionaries now endorse the use of “It was me” only in an informal setting or context, and the use of “It was I” only in a formal setting or context. Therefore, you should feel free to use them accordingly.

Informal Usage