“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning”. – Albert Einstein (1879-1955, German-born physicist)

1st January 2024Societal Issuesrolade

In 2023, Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominated societal debates, from how it impacts employment in some occupational sectors to its questionable use in the modelling industry. As a language teacher, I’m not immune from the significance of AI’s rapid evolution. In my writing courses, I don’t discourage adult students from using translators or AI, as they maintain doing this to save time. Instead, I focus on how they can improve their AI-generated texts, pointing out the choice of words and punctuation, reminding them to check the type of English (UK or US) and adapt this to the one their company or organisation uses, and forming or adding phrases to sound human or courteous but impactful. Most importantly, we discuss intellectual property rights, reputable resourcing, and referencing.

A year and a half ago, I started writing a novel. With the arrival of Chat GPT (AI software and platforms show up every day), I decided to shelve it. There are already novels helped by AI or even entirely written by it, and many more will be on the market. How do readers differentiate between human and AI-generated stories?

I enjoy writing, and in 2024, I’ll venture into a non-fiction illustrated/pictorial book that is entertaining (fun to read) yet informative or educative. Wish me luck! I admire people with a good sense of humour, a gift I don’t have but am determined to acquire as a skill. I hope to achieve this objective before AI exceeds my ability to laugh and empathise.

It’s a coffee table book about using English in our globalised and digitalised world. I need anecdotes, jokes, photos, and illustrations related to this topic. All contributions will be acknowledged (i.e. you decide on your full legal name, nickname, or website link that will go with them). You can contact me through the comment section here. I’m the only one who can see your message and email address, which are deleted after I’ve read them).

How about you? What did you let go last year? What are your challenges in 2024?

I wish you, my readers, and your loved ones good health, peace, love, joy, and prosperity. May you’ve more giggles than grumbles this year!

Are hotels obliged to book transport for clients? Have you had hotel dissatisfaction?

1st December 2023Societal Issuesbusiness trip, holiday/vacation, hotelrolade

Before I talk about this month’s topic, I’d like to express my gratitude to you, my readers. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences with you, receive your “likes”, and read your comments. I wish you joy, peace, and good health this holiday season.

Now, here’s my last blog in 2023.

My flight from London to Luxembourg was at 7:35 am, and I had to be at the airport by 6:00 am. I went to T Hotel’s reception at 5:00 am, requesting them to call me a taxi. They said they’re not allowed to do this. Surprised, I blurted out, “You’re not allowed to help a client. I don’t have an app for it, and I’m having a problem with my iPhone”. This hotel was close to the airport, which was the reason why I chose it, so I asked them the quickest way to get there. The two staffers didn’t have the answer and kept telling me to use Google Maps. They instantly forgot that there was a software bug on my mobile.

After walking for five minutes in a dimly lit street, I wasn’t sure where I was going. So, I decided to go to the nearest hotel M to ask for assistance. I told the young man at its reception my problem. He didn’t only book a taxi for me but offered me coffee.

I’ve been to over 40 countries and stayed at different-starred accommodations; it was the first time a hotel receptionist refused to call a taxi for me. When I returned home to France, I received a feedback form from T Hotel; I rated poorly my experience with them. If they had called a taxi or Uber for me, I would not have made a big deal of the check-in wait of more than 10 minutes. I was impatient as I could hear voices behind the reception desk.

Hotels are not required to book transport for their clients. However, most of them offer this service as a courtesy to their guests. Next time I choose a hotel, I’ll check its customer service policy and practice. About my two-year-old mobile, its warranty has just expired, so I might trade it in with a newer model that doesn’t have a software bug.

My hotel story didn’t end in London. On November 18 & 19, I had a stand at the Walferdange book fair. I live 45 km from this Luxembourgish town but decided to stay in a hotel nearby to be rested and alert the following day. Unexpectedly and disappointingly, the room they gave me had a non-stop irritating noise that sounded like a boiler or air conditioning system, which I recorded at 2:00 am, 4:00 am, and 6:00 am. I had enough of twisting and curling in bed at 6:20 am, so I switched on their tele; the screen message was “no connection”. I checked out earlier than planned. When I showed my recordings to its receptionist, she said they would look at it. Was her one-time sorry enough to compensate for losing a good night’s sleep and a relaxing weekend?

What an eyesore!

1st November 2023Societal Issuesrolade

What an eyesore!

“A beggar hates his benefactor as much as he hates himself for begging“.
Oscar Wilde (azquotes.com/quotes/topics/begging.html)

It’s an eyesore seeing the desperation of the most vulnerable people in our society begging. Studies show there is a connection between begging and homelessness.

On my way to work, I often notice beggars, also known as panhandlers. They are at the tram station in a business district in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Isn’t begging illegal? Why do some people give to beggars and many don’t?

Begging is prohibited or restricted in many countries. For example, each state and territory in Australia has specific laws regarding begging and panhandling. It’s illegal in Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania (but not in the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia).

Begging is not illegal in most EU countries. However, the European Court on Human Rights declared that a ban on begging violated the person’s right to private and family life in one of its cases. It did not state that begging should be decriminalised, which was wise. Criminalising it can negatively affect the vulnerable, raising ethical, legal, and social concerns.

In Luxembourg, where I work, begging is permitted in the city centre, main train station “Gare” and its neighbourhood, and suburb of Bonnevoie between 7 AM and 10 PM. This ban prohibits people from asking for money but allows them to sit on the ground. The business district of Kirchberg is not on the list; that’s why – as you can see in the photo, the individual is sitting on the ground, begging, and drying her laundry on a shopping trolley.

I have seen people giving money to beggars, but I don’t because I’m uncertain what they might do with it. Will I be aiding and abetting the cycle of abuse or addiction to alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs? Are they begging for themselves, or are they forced to do so by others?

Do you give to beggars? Don’t you think the more we give, the more we make begging lucrative and devalue the day’s hard-earned money? If imprisonment, fines, and community-based orders don’t stop begging, what will work?

Summer is gone; here comes autumn

1st October 2023personal and social development, society, Values and PrinciplesMotivationrolade

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started”. – Mark Twain

The school year in Europe starts in September. In France, people exchange greetings, “Bonne rentrée”. ‘Rentrer” (pronunciation – Rahn-tray) means ‘to return’. Although it originally meant “reprendre l’école” (back at school); these days, we also use it to refer to work after the summer holiday “reprendre ton travail” and not only “reprendre tes études” (studies).

Jorge Liboreiro even started his EuroNews Briefing article with: “The first week of September marks la rentrée in the Belgian capital, the synchronised comeback of freshly energised, glowingly tanned eurocrats to their spotless offices” (sic).

Not everyone is motivated to resume or start studies or work. Those with low levels or no motivation depend on external rewards (e.g. high grades, money, promotion, or material things) to get involved, known as extrinsic motivation.

The highly motivated ones are nudged by the sheer satisfaction of being part of the activity or process. They are challenged, curious, or praised. Pundits call this intrinsic motivation. Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan’s theory of extrinsic and intrinsic was developed in the 70s-80s. While extrinsic is a trigger (initial boost), intrinsic is sustainable.

Intrinsic motivation is long-lasting, whereas extrinsic motivation is short-term; both are relevant to personal development.

Perception, judgment, or approval of others can be detrimental motivating factors, particularly in our modern Internet and social media society. Instead, we should focus on positive intrinsic reasons, such as wellbeing and mindfulness, connection with people and our environment, and enjoying what we do.

“Whatever anyone else says or does, their words and their actions are truly about themselves. Don’t take it personally when they rant, even if they direct their unhappiness in your direction. Their negativity is basically selfishness, and their selfishness is about them, not about you”. – Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Where do you come from?

1st July 2023culture, immigration and multiculturalismrolade

“Where do you come from” is a phrase that gives me goose pimples. I have answered this question more than a hundred times and expect to encounter the same query at any moment. Do they mean where I was born, where I have studied, worked and lived, where I have immigrated, or where I feel I belong?

It’s summertime in Europe, the holiday season. “Where do you come from” is one of the most uttered questions, from tourism staff who need your answer for statistical purposes to curious strangers because of your look or accent.

(I was trying to learn English and I was very worried about my accent. I’m sure I’ll always have it but I remember Tom Hanks said to me, “Don’t lose the accent. If you do, you’re lost.” Antonio Banderas (sic) (https://www.ef.co.uk/english-resources/english-quotes/language/).

Physical attributes (i.e. your look) and accents are used as categorisation factors of ethnicity. The latter is based on skin colour, hair texture, facial features, and other physical characteristics. The Iowa University Digital Press’s article on Dress, Appearance, and Diversity in US Society (https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/dressappearancediversity/chapter/race-and-ethnicity/) discusses this subject, which – although it has an American perspective – resonates globally.

Not long ago, I heard a fellow bus passenger saying, “I look Indian, but I’m not; I’m South African”.

Research has been done on physical characteristics concerning “racism”. In comparison, accents have received less research interest. Several studies and anecdotes have shown how people with a nonstandard or “non-native” accent are perceived as less competent or of lower socio-economic status.

An accent is different from a dialect. An accent is a sound we produce when we speak; thus, we all have an accent, which is our identity and a clue to group membership, whereas a dialect includes grammar, spelling, and vocabulary differences.

How about if your look doesn’t match your accent; is it all right to ask, “Where do you come from?” Grammatically, this question is correct. It’s also socially and politically correct if it is asked by tourism staff to improve their services. However, there are situations in which this question can be understood to imply that the person you are asking is a foreigner and doesn’t belong in the country. For instance, children of immigrants in Australia and Canada and Asian-Americans (born and raised in the US and speak only English) might take umbrage when keep getting asked, “Where do you come from?” as this assumes that they aren’t citizens of their countries and are from somewhere else.

Hence, think twice before asking someone (Where do you come from?) to avoid insulting them. Anyway, the person often brings it up without you having to ask when it is relevant to the conversation. I haven’t heard of someone getting offended when asked, “What’s your nationality”. People often take pride in answering this; I do. If we aren’t sure what and how to ask, then don’t.

“To effectively communicate, we must realise that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” Tony Robbins (American author, philanthropist, and business strategist). (realise – UK)

Reading is brain-picking; writing is formalised thinking

1st June 2023culture, personal and social development, societyrolade

Two weeks ago, I gave a talk on “The interplay between reading and writing in our global village” at the EU Inter-institutional Libraries’ event. We live in a global village (i.e. our world is a community connected by the Internet/computers, trade, entertainment, etc), so we share ways our social realities are formed and interpreted. The formation and interpretation happen through the stories we tell each other, stories we read and write.

Reading is a social activity. You might be alone, tucked under a cosy blanket next to a bedside lamp, but you look deeper into the author’s mind and subconsciously connect with other readers.

Writing connects us to ourselves, and it’s formalised thinking. As William Faulkner had said: “Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.” (1897-1962, American writer and Nobel laureate).

We read what we like to write and write what we have read or want to read.

 When we read or write, we:
 exercise our brain,
 improve our focus,
 improve our memory,
 improve our ability to empathise,
 improve our communication skills,
 improve our mental health,
 gain knowledge and ideas, and 
 get entertained (reduce stress). 
 In short, we become better individuals and live longer.

One of the event organisers is a co-author of “Pour en finir avec la passion: l’abus en littérature” (To End the Passion: Abuse in Literature), which is about the evolution of cultural and literary conceptions of passion – love – in French society and questions why love remains inseparable from suffering.

One of the participants commented on the novel “Future Perfect”, which he had recently read, posing, “Has her past been erased by a mistaken computer click or simply shelved for no reason?” The main character’s resilience leads to encounters in Asia, America, and Europe that bring back memories of love and devotion half a century earlier. It has a global theme.

Our Words Matter

1st April 2023immigration and multiculturalism, language, Societal Issues, Values and Principlesrolade

On 23 March 2023, I was invited to speak at the European Parliament Directorate-General for Personnel’s hybrid event to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The theme was “Anti-Racism –Why words matter”.

Some of the things I said were:

Classifying individuals as English speakers and non-English speakers is inappropriate when based only on the language of the country they come from. They should be described as people with a “First Language Spoken Other Than English” and “First Language Spoken English”. If you want to refer to their spoken English proficiency, describe them as “Speaks English Very Well, Fluent, or Proficient, “Speaks English Well or Conversational”, “Basiс”, or “No English Language Skill”.

“Our, Their, Us, and Them” are pronouns that should be used wisely, as they can be polarising. They affect feelings, thoughts, and actions. Whereas, social cohesion reduces fear and prejudice.

Race is ascribed to individuals based on physical traits; it’s not their choice. Race is not the same as ethnicity, which the individual chooses, encompassing everything from language to nationality, culture and traditions, religion, and values.

Race has no coherent, fixed definition, and its myth hasn’t served humanity well.

We use “blacklist” for something negative or prohibited. Doesn’t this reinforce notions that black is undesirable while white is desirable? How about using “barredlist”, “denylist”, “blockedlist”, or “disallowedlist” instead?

Are there prejudicial and offensive words and phrases in your language?

“Gyp” or “Gip” is a short version of gypsy/gipsy- Slang for swindlers and cheaters. Dupe, rip off, take advantage, or trick
“Chop Chop!” sounds like you’re making fun of a Chinese speaking Pidgin English. Do it quickly
“Guru” – A spiritual guide or leader. In the Buddhist and Hindu traditions, “guru” commands respect and using it casually calls into question its original value.
Voodoo economics is used to describe supply-side economics (i.e. something based on unreal and impractical concepts). Voodoo is a religion practised in Haiti and parts of the Caribbean.
An immigrant is a human being; a human being cannot be illegal. Why not use “Individual/family/people with undocumented status”; or focus on the action, i.e. illegal entry?
“Alien” and “foreigner” suggest that the person does not belong to a particular place or group, i.e. a stranger or outsider. “Foreign-born people” tells you they were born in a country where they don’t currently reside.

Issues on ethnic slurs or racism in the workplace:

Is there psychological safety in the workplace?
No individual target; no one complains about it. (Someone may perceive this as such and become unproductive due to offended sensibilities).
An isolated incident may be repeated and can become a norm.
It’s only a joke/just for fun. Humour and jokes can poster or improve group cohesiveness. Laughing and smiling relieve anger, boredom, fatigue, frustration, and tension. However, when the workplace is inundated with such practices and management implicitly or explicitly condones them, making at least one employee uncomfortable, it has to stop. The bottom line is respecting the words and feelings of everyone.

Words matter! Language is the foundation of how we understand and treat each other. Words can make the difference between respecting and dehumanising each other.

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Where do you come from?