Like a rolling stone...

Acquiring a second language is definitely not an easy task: only the brave ones will be able to endure, breathe deeply and succeed. No matter what your reasons for learning a new language are, we all have to accept the fact that miracles do not happen. Jesus was able to multiply the fish; Magicians can do some nice tricks and perform wonderful stunts: we, English teachers, unfortunately, do not have any kind of power whatsover... The message here is clear and simple: there's no free lunch (reading between the lines: YOU have to do your best to develop your language skills since we won't be able to learn for yourselves). So - you might be thinking - what can we do, Wise Teacher, in order to improve our English? The answer my friend, as Bob Dylan would say, is NOT blowing in the wind. It is straightforward: practice. How? Whenever you have the opportunity. Internet, movies, music, Tv shows, books, magazines, whatever!!! Embrace the world and run for your lives!!!

I've always enjoyed reading. I strongly believe we can learn a lot about life (not only languages) when we engage into such activity. Books, magazines, articles, poems, newspapers: lots of options, don't you think???

My tip for the day is about reading. In English (obviously).

Rolling Stone is an American magazine whose main purpose is to discuss music, politics and popular culture. Unlike many of you, experts in music, might have thought, the magazine was neither named after the famous British band The Rolling Stones nor is related to Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone... It was named after a Muddy Waters' song (homonymous, as you might have expected). By the way, have you ever heard of Muddy Waters??? If not, shame on you!!! (I strongly suggest having a look at his songs on youtube!)

The first RS issue dates from 1967 and it depicts John Lennon on its cover: a hell of a start, if you ask me. RS used to be a very political magazine, specially considering what was happening in the States at that time: Vietnam war, hippies, Cold War and many other controversial facts which have changed the history of our planet. Impossible not to write about them, right? Specially if you were a journalist immersed in such environment.

During the 90's, the editors were forced to change the focus of the mag for business reasons (money, money, money!!!): the political roots gave room to more teenage-Hollywoodian-pop topics, aiming, smartly, to attract young people and, hence, sell more issues. They were massively criticized for that, which we can understand. However, nowadays, RS seems to have found its ideal tone: a mixture of entertainment, pop culture and (of course) politics fills the pages of the mag.

More than 40 years have gone by and RS has been published in many countries all over. Since 2006, Brazil has been editing its own magazine: I myself subscribe it and recommend it (it's written in Portuguese, though!).

If you are as fond of music as I am, I reckon you'll have a wonderful time discovering how cultural and entertaining this mag can be. Read it. In Brazil, unfortunately, the American issue can have an exorbitant price (when I say "exorbitant" I'm not exaggerating, trust me!). Here's the thing: you can go to their website and check the latest news, read previous issues, have a look at the astounding pictures which RS has always been famous for and, GUESS WHAT!?!, practice your English! (I'm a teacher or have you forgotten that?)

Here's the link to their website

http://www.rollingstone.com/

Learning more about the world around us and keeping updated is extremely important to become a conscious citizen. Sharpening your language skills (no matter if it's your mother tongue or a 2nd one) is also fundamental for communication and evolution. By reading, you can help the world become a better place and even if you don't make the change you'd like to, I can assure you there's no stronger power in the world than knowledge. This one, my friends, can move mountains.

Cheers,

Teacher Hell

Here's the song which inspired the founder of the mag, Jann Wanner in 1967: