I was looking into publicly available information about the types of questions on the speaking portion of the IELTS academic test, which is a test used by universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada to assess the English language skills of non-native speakers. The testing system was designed to test the readiness of a…
Articles by Jeremiah Bourque
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Other Languages
Samurai: Sometimes Warriors, Always Servants
The word “samurai” evolved from the word “saburai,” which itself is rooted in the verb “saburau,” meaning “to serve.” The kanji for samurai, 侍, is composed of two components, or “radicals”: a man (on the left), and a temple (on the right). Thus, just as a man pays homage to the kami (spirits/ gods) at…
Other Languages
Naruto – The Real (Life) Story
“Naruto” is not just the name of a popular ninja-centric anime, nor the name of the main character of that anime. This is the story of the “swirl” that appears left and right in that series. Naruto is also a real-life island: Naruto Island. Naruto is also a straight: the Naruto Strait, where the Seto…
Learning English
Figurative Meaning: Explanations & Examples
Literal vs. Figurative Meanings https://learnoutlive.com/wp-content/audio/Literal-vs-Figurative.mp3 When discussing American English idioms, or expressions, or sayings, it is very important to understand the difference between the “literal” and “figurative” meanings of a word or phrase. “Literal” has the same root as “literary,” which means “related to a book.” A “literal” meaning is a meaning that is “by…
