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What is April Fools Day?

What is April Fools Day?

Today is the most important holiday in the United States. It is widely celebrated and highly valued. Even so, it is on the brink of being banned on a national level.

April fools!

Did you believe that? If so, then I can tell you, “April fools!” as it is clear I April-fooled you. Read and watch the videos in this article to improve your English listening skills with different accents.

So, Really. What is April Fools Day?

April Fools Day is a day of jokes and pranks. It is not the most important holiday, nor is it on the brink of being banned. It is simply a fun day of practical jokes. Only some people play jokes today.

A practical joke is a joke you play on someone that may embarrass or amuse.

For example, someone might put a co-worker’s stapler in Jello like this:

Watch This History Channel Video to find out more about the holiday and practice your listening skills.

The Spaghetti Tree

One of the most famous April Fools jokes of all time was the Spaghetti Tree joke done by a news station. Many people were fooled. Here was the video they played:

The Spaghetti Tree Video

Many people were fooled. It was the 1950s, and many people watching had never made spaghetti from scratch. BBC got callers asking how they can grow their own spaghetti plants.

They were told, “Delicately place your own sprig of spaghetti in a can of pasta sauce and hope for the best.”

Find out more about this hoax on in this video: Commentary on The Spaghetti Tree Prank

Top 10 April Fools Day Hoaxes

Want to see more ideas of pranks played on April Fools Day? Check out this video:

Top 10 April Fools Day Hoaxes

What About You?

Have you ever April-fooled someone? What did you do? Please share in the comments.

What other April Fools pranks have you heard of? Please share in the comments.

Purposeful English is here to help you present your most confident, respectful, professional self in English. All of our classes are on sale in honor of people staying home globally due to COVID-19.

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Get Better Results. You have an excellent offering. Your solutions can have a global impact, and you’re excited to see the results. 

Yet, you aren’t seeing the sales that you need to make your business as profitable as you would like. And you need it to be profitable more than ever. How many people are choosing competitors over you due to language errors? You might be surprised. 

Potential customers and clients click away from websites that appear unprofessional based on small language mistakes. A simple change of wording could make a world of difference. 

 Here's our Language Tip today: Make sure you edit. If English isn't your first language, hire someone to do the job for you. Either way, everything you write reflects you. Make sure it does so well. Need help? https://lnkd.in/ebB_-JQ 

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Want to improve your English while you are at home due to coronavirus COVID-19? Use your extra time to boost your communication skills. Let us design a class to fit your needs and professional goals. All of our classes are on sale!

https://www.purposefulenglish.com/class-store

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Tailored Training

Tailored Training

You are not like any other person on earth, so your language training should not be like any other person's. You have a specific personality, profession, learning style, and life plan. The language you need and use should reflect that. Let us design a program that focuses on as many or as few of the services you need for success in your corner of the world. 

Progress most effectively and efficiently toward your language goals.

Tailored Training

You are not like any other person on earth, so your language training should not be like any other person's. You have a specific personality, profession, learning style, and life plan. The language you need and use should reflect that. Let us design a program that focuses on as many or as few of the services you need for success in your corner of the world. 

During your free consultation, we will discuss what aspects are most important for your personal and professional goals. Here are some of the popular options students like to include:

MASTER MEETINGS

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

BUSINESS VOCABULARY

IDIOMS AND PHRASAL VERBS

SPEAKING AND LISTENING

READING AND WRITING

BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL WRITING

CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING

REPATRIATION

ENGLISH FOR CHILDREN

EXECUTIVE COACHING

PRONUNCIATION FOR HEALTHCARE

PRONUNCIATION FOR BUSINESS

PRONUNCIATION FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

PRONUNCIATION FOR TEACHERS

PRONUNCIATION FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

MASTER THE ART OF CONVERSATION

GRAMMAR

ACADEMIC ENGLISH

PASS MY TEST IN ENGLISH

What do you need English for? Your class will be tailored for that.

Progress most effectively and efficiently toward your language goals.

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Pro Presentations

Present professionally in English. Master vocabulary and phrases essential to clear presentations. Catch your audience’s attention, build rapport, summarize, organize, leave a lasting impression, and cast your vision. Make sure your pronunciation communicates the message and meaning you intend. Present clearly, powerfully, and professionally.

Professional Presentations

Present your most confident, professional self whenever you present in English. Whether you are presenting digitally or in person, this course will give you essential skills and practice to boost your confidence and effectiveness as a speaker.

This course will cover:

The secret sauce of presentations: Clear purpose

Catching and holding your audience’s attention

Organizing your presentation

Building rapport

Comparing and contrasting

Summarizing

Leaving a lasting impression

Why pronunciation matters and how to master it

The elevator pitch

Informing and Persuading

How to deliver bad news

Yearly reviews, sales pitches, and more

The presentations you develop with your trainer will be specific to your work, needs, and goals. The course will be tailored for your specific needs and speaking context.

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How to Give Sincere, Specific Compliments

The ability to compliment well is a vital skill both personally and professionally. It is vital for relationships and has the power to build your team, promote the strengths of others, and help team members stay motivated and on track.

Unfortunately, many people have never developed the language skill to do this well. Be different, and you will create a different, more positive culture around you.

When you encourage others, it is important to:

1. Pay Attention

Pay attention to the big and small things that others around you value, do, and say. Notice things they do well. Look for attitudes, abilities, actions, words, and character traits.

2. Be Specific

Once you notice worthwhile characteristics, attitudes, actions, and abilities, compliment them on the small things and bigger things in a specific way.

Like This:

“I appreciate the way you give specific feedback to everyone on our team.”

“I like the way you designed the flyer. It’s eye-catching and sends a powerful message.”

“I’m grateful for your speech today. It was insightful and challenged me to make specific changes that will help me get better results.”

“You have a creative eye and in-depth knowledge of our target audience. I’m glad you are leading the design of our new marketing plan.”

Not This:

Too Vague:

Vague general compliments are not effective. In American culture, these are overused, and the hearer doesn’t even listen to these anymore. They are listening for the constructive feedback that will come after 1-2 compliments. Make your compliments specific if you want them to be received well.

Here are some vague, not-very-meaningful, unspecific compliments to avoid:

“Good job!”

“Your presentation was great!”

“You did really a good job”

“You’re a really nice person”

Another type of compliment to avoid is something that is:

Too Inconsequential:

Make sure it’s connected to a valuable trait or talent. Not something like, “I like the way you eat chicken,” or “You put on your jacket so nicely.”

3. Be Sincere

Compliment sincerely. Don’t compliment to win someone over or to get something from them in the future. People see through this. Also, if you don’t compliment based on true merit, your compliments can be damaging. Make sure your compliments are true, heartfelt, and delivered with genuine love toward the person.

4. Avoid Backhanded Compliments

If you use too many modifiers, your compliment can sound like an insult rather than a compliment. Some people actually use compliments as a way of being hurtful on purpose. While you may not intend to do this, you must be careful to avoid it.  For example, these sound more like an insult disguised as a compliment, and they are hurtful (the italicized words are the ones that make it sound like an insult):

Your report is surprisingly good.

Despite what people say, you really are a kind person.

You’re smarter than you look.

You did a pretty good job on your presentation, considering how shy you are.

I’m really impressed that you’ve stayed on the team for the whole year.

Even though you are quiet, you are helpful and thoughtful.

Wow, you look great! Your clothes aren’t unprofessional today.

5. Show How The Person’s Excellent Qualities Affect You

Sometimes it can be helpful to say how a person’s good qualities and actions affect you. How do they make a difference in your life? For example:

Your attention to detail makes our whole team’s job easier.

Your positive outlook helps me keep going, even when it’s hard.

Your hug today encouraged me when I was at a low point.

Your post gave me a new perspective. Thank you.

Compliment often. Compliment promptly. Compliment people in front of others. Be sincere and specific, and you never know if you will simply brighten someone’s day or change the trajectory of their life. Either way, it’s worth it.

If You Found This Helpful, You May Also Like

The Top Word to Convey Respect and Politeness

Expression Session: To take something with a grain of salt

Define Success

Photo edited from Photo by Product School on Unsplash

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Success on Three Fronts

Defining Success

Students and professionals from around the world came together this summer to improve their English. In process, they wrote their own definitions of and recommendations for success to share with you. Today’s perspective comes from Alejandro in Chile.

ALEJANDRO | CHILE

Hello, my name is Alejandro Silva, and I’m from Chile.

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

I define success as: success means having success in my professional goals, with enough resources and time to grow- and giving support to my children- giving them the best opportunities, being independent and having financial tranquility when I’m older.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCCESS

Based on my definition, if you want to be successful, I would recommend that you prioritize three key relationships in your life: 

1.- Your Profession:

 To be successful , it is vital to work on what you want, learn about it, meet people, and work together. Put your heart on that and be ambitious on your goals. Be loyal with the people around you and share your achievements.

 2.-Your Family

 Take care and push them to achieve their goals, share time with them every day, and be kind with your children.

 3.- Your life

In your financial tranquility, save money for your aging time and to be independent of the sources of the life. Save 30% of your income and your extra income, and invest it in what you want and believe (don’t believe in people you don’t know; sometimes they have different objectives).

Take care about your health, play sports, and sleep the hours your body needs.

PURSUE YOUR SUCCESS

We hope this encourages you to define, pursue, and achieve your own success. Discover more in this series here:

Don’t Miss Future Posts:

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Success is Development

Defining Success

Students and professionals from around the world came together this summer to improve their English. In process, they wrote their own definitions of and recommendations for success to share with you. Today’s perspective comes from Seong Wook in South Korea.

SEONG WOOK | SOUTH KOREA

Hello, my name is Lim Seong Wook, and I’m from South Korea.

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

To me, success means development.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCCESS

Based on my definition, my top recommendation for success is practice. To anyone seeking to be successful, I would recommend: help others. If you want to be successful, you need to have passion. The key to success that I would most highly recommend is: challenge.

PURSUE YOUR SUCCESS

We hope this encourages you to define, pursue, and achieve your own success. Discover more in this series here:

Don’t Miss Future Posts:

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Expression Session: To Take Something With A Grain Of Salt

Idioms, colloquialisms, and other expressions are vital for professional communication. Find out the meanings and origins of expressions in our weekly Expression Session.

This week’s expression is: To Take Something With a Grain of Salt

Idioms, Colloquialisms, and Everyday Expressions

Professional English requires you to be aware of common idioms, colloquialisms and expressions. Today’s video looks at the origin and meaning of the expression:

“To take something with a grain of salt.”

More Idioms and Expressions to Come

If you liked today’s video, please share it! Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the blog so you never miss a post.

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After The Horse is Stolen

Should you make the changes necessary now or later? Find out in Su Yeon’s proverb from South Korea.

Su Yeon | South Korea

Hi, my name is Su Yeon and I’m from South Korea.

Repair the barn after the horse is stolen.

What Does it Mean?

This means “work now so you don’t regret it later.”

Why Do I Like It?

My personality is supposed to be pre-emptive.

How Does It Relate to My Life?

In my life, I like to do well in advance.

More Wisdom From Around the World

Did you enjoy this proverb? If so, you might want to check out some others from this series:

Betrayed

Reap What you Sow

I Like Rumors

Keep seeking to be your most confident, respectful, professional self in English!

Photo edited by Angela Edmonds from photo by Filipe Dos Santos Mendes on Unsplash

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The Suspicions of the Witch

What should you do if you suspect something? Find out in Natalia’s favorite proverb from Chile.

Natalia | Chile

Hello, my name is Natalia, and I’m from Chile. My favorite proverb from my country is:

If the river makes noise, it’s because there are stones.

What Does it Mean?

This proverb means that if you suspect something, it may because of something.

Why Do I Like It?

I like it, because many times its true.

How Does It Relate to My Life?

I have applied it in my life with some lies. I perceived some things that seemed to be false and they turned out to be lies. My friends jokingly told me that I am a witch for this.

More Wisdom From Around the World

Did you enjoy this proverb? If so, you might want to check out some others from this series:

I Like Rumors

Near Gold

Bon Voy-Everest

Keep seeking to be your most confident, respectful, professional self in English!

Photo edited by Angela Edmonds from photo by Larm Rmah on Unsplash

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Betrayed By A Friend

It hurts to be betrayed. But, this hurts even more. Discover wisdom from Youra’s favorite proverb from South Korea.

Youra | South Korea

Hi, my name is Youra Seo. I’m from Korea. My favorite proverb from my country is:

Stabbed in the back.

What Does it Mean?

It means to be betrayed by a believer.

Why Do I Like It?

The reason why I like this proverb is that it is a good truth.

How Does It Relate to My Life?

Once upon a time, my friends betrayed me. So, I like it.

Thank you!

More Wisdom From Around the World

Did you enjoy this proverb? If so, you might want to check out some others from this series:

A Proverb that Changes My Life

Just Do It!

Bon Voy-Everest

Keep seeking to be your most confident, respectful, professional self in English!

Photo edited by Angela Edmonds from photo by Matt Hatchett from Pexels

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Near Gold, then you are Gold; Near Silver, then you are Silver

Thank you for continuing to join us on our global journey for wisdom. Today’s proverb comes from China.

Shang | China

Hello, my name is Shang and I’m from China. My favorite proverb is:

Near gold, then you are gold; near silver, then you are silver

What Does it Mean?

If one is always near gold, he or she looks like gold, and perhaps someday he or she will become gold himself or herself. If one is always near silver, he or she looks like silver, and perhaps some time later, he or she will be changed into silver, too.

Why Do I Like It?

I like it because it is instructive and helpful to human being’s growth.

How Does It Relate to My Life?

I often teach my son using this proverb. I think it can help him to become a good-natured man.

More Wisdom From Around the World

Did you enjoy this proverb? If so, you might want to check out some others from this series:

Wisdom From Around the World: Proverbs

Even Monkeys Fall

I Like Rumors

Keep seeking to be your most confident, respectful, professional self in English!

Photo edited by Angela Edmonds by photo from Photo by PhotoMIX Ltd. from Pexels

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Just Do It!

Thank you for joining us in our quest for wisdom globally. Today’s proverb comes to us from Chile.

Fabiana | Chile

Hello, my name is Fabiana, and I’m from Chile. My favorite proverb from my country is:

The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried away by the current.

What Does it Mean?

It means that you have to take advantage of opportunities.

Why Do I Like It?

I like this proverb, because my Dad always says it to me.

How Does It Relate to My Life?

It applies to my life now, in this program (EIP English Immersion Program at Missouri State). This is a great opportunity for me. I want to take full advantage of opportunities.

More Wisdom From Around the World

Did you enjoy this proverb? If so, you might want to check out some others from this series:

Wisdom From Around the World: Proverbs

Even Monkeys Fall

I Like Rumors

Keep seeking to be your most confident, respectful, professional self in English!

Photo Credit: Photo edited by Angela Edmonds from image by Arhnue Tan from Pixabay

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You can gain a lot of wisdom through studying proverbs from around the world. Today’s proverb originated in Israel around AD 40 and spread through the book of Galatians around the globe. Now, it is a key proverb for daily life in both South Korea and the United States. Comment below if you know of other countries where it is common, too.

Su Yeon | South Korea

Hi, my name is Su Yeon, and I’m from South Korea. My favorite proverb from my country is

You reap what you sow.

What Does it Mean?

If you do well to others, you will get that much profit.

Why Do I Like It?

It’s a proverb that gives me the will to do kind things.

How Does It Relate to My Life?

By giving kindness to others, I have gained a lot of trust from people in school and I will continue to make the effort.

More Wisdom From Around the World

Did you enjoy this proverb? If so, you might want to check out some others from this series:

A Proverb that Changes My Life

Bon Voy-Everest

I Like Rumors

Keep seeking to be your most confident, respectful, professional self in English! 

Photo Credit: Photo edited by Angela Edmonds from image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

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Bon Voy-Everest?

Thank you for joining us on our quest around the globe for wisdom in the Wisdom From Around the World Series. Today’s proverb is from South Korea:

Yezi Lee | South Korea

Hello, my name is Yezi Lee, and I’m from Korea. My favorite proverb from my country is: 

With too many people, the ship goes to the mountain.

What Does it Mean?

People have different ideas. Therefore, if many people make other claims, it means that the ship may go to the mountain, not the water.

This proverb is equal to the U.S. proverb:

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Why Do I Like It?

I like this, because this proverb helps me decide my opinions.

How Does It Relate to My Life?

When making a decision in my life, only a few people come together to make the decision.

More Wisdom From Around the World

Did you enjoy this proverb? If so, you might want to check out some others from this series:

Wisdom From Around the World: Proverbs

Even Monkeys Fall

I Like Rumors

Keep seeking to be your most confident, respectful, professional self in English!

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Define Success

How Do You Define Success?

Can you define success in one word?

Get a global perspective on the meaning of success by watching this inspirational video.

Students and professionals from around the globe met together in Springfield, Missouri in July 2019 for an English Immersion Program at Missouri State.

During my class, they defined success for themselves. They defined success in one word as well as gave a complete definition. Now we are sharing our definitions with you with the hopes that you will be inspired to achieve your own goals.

If you liked this…

You may also want to check out these other resources:

Wisdom From Around the World

Even Monkeys Fall

A Proverb that Changes My Life

Keep pursuing the goal of becoming your most confident, respectful, professional self in English!