Inspirational quote

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Now is the time

Planting a tree on top of stack of coins

Sometimes in life, there is time for reflection. We have the space to look back on the choices we've made and consider what we want for the future. Sometimes, we think about the things we wish we had done and it feels too late, as if life has passed us by. This proverb speaks to those who feel like they've missed opportunities in life. It's for people who say "it's too late" or "I'm stuck" or "I've missed the boat". 

Sticking with it

Alt Text: A winning black chess piece and a fallen white chess piece

Successful students are the ones who don't let a disappointing test score stand in their way. We've all received a score at one time or another that we weren't thrilled about. 

This is when we ask ourselves: Do I take this as a failure or as a chance to learn? Do I give up or try harder?

Language point:

The quote, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn” sounds very similar to the famous quote “You win some, you lose some,” but the message is entirely different.  

Coming together

Cherry blossoms blooming on a branch

This quote is reminiscent of cherry blossom time in Japan. Although one little blossom is so lovely, it’s all of the blossoms together that draw crowds of people from all over the world. It is wise to remember that there is so much that unites us, and so much that we can do together

Language Point:

Did you know that the word together has many uses in the English language?

Let go

A man on a mountain letting go of himself

You undoubtedly have a special set of skills that you can rely on in business and in life. Embrace your areas of expertise and your unique leadership skills in order to thrive. There is always room for improvement, but it is important to accept who you already are.

Justice for all

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.—Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote these famous words from a jail cell. He believed in his words so deeply that he was willing to be locked up for it. Words have the power to inspire change, good or bad. These particular words were meant to inspire the idea that equality is for all people.

Language point:

Anywhere and everywhere: how are these two words different?

An act of kindness

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.—Khalil Gibran

There are many ways to show kindness. You can open the door for someone. You can say “bless you” when someone sneezes. When a person drops their pen, you can pick it up for them. You can give your seat to someone on the train or smile at the cashier in the grocery store. A small act of kindness is easy to give and meaningful for the person receiving it.

Failing magnificently

Life is the art of failing magnificently. —Atticus

Speaking in a new language can be very hard for those of us that don't like to fail. Chances are you will say the wrong word at some point or use the incorrect tense. You might even get a disappointing score on an English exam. We're here to say: don't give up! Failing is an important (and unavoidable) part of the learning process.

Making an impact

Yesterday I was clever, so I changed the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. —Rumi

Our students at The English Farm are striving to make the world a better place, but changing the world starts with changing yourself. If you want to have a global presence in order to make the biggest impact, then learning English is a great place to start.  

Language point

Let’s take a look at the vocabulary used in this quotation.

Clever vs. wise — what’s the difference?  

Simply put

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world. —Mary Oliver

Our students at The English Farm have big dreams. They don’t want to simply work— they want their work to mean something!

Grammar Point:

Simply” is an adverb. Adverbs modify verbs and tell you how they’re done. Let's look at two sentences, one with an adverb and one without. How are these sentences different?

Courage vs bravery

Do you know what a foreign accent is? It's a sign of bravery. —Amy Chua

Many people think that accents are beautiful, a part of your identity, and as Amy Chua says, a sign of bravery. Learning a language doesn’t come easily but requires a lot of hard work and dedication. In addition to that, using the language even when it’s not perfect requires bravery!

Be great

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.-Mark Twain

This is some very good advice.

The best way to achieve your goals is to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Alternatively, you can be the kind of leader that believes in other people. We all have the power to build one another up or tear each other down. Great leaders want others to feel great.