How's the weather today? This is the first line of Jonathan Taylor's new Weather Song.

When it comes to small talk, the weather is a popular subject for Canadians. For example, I talk about the weather with our crossing guard every morning. We only have a few seconds to chat before the traffic light changes. This gives us just enough time to comment on the weather. 

Talking about the weather is a good way to break the ice when you meet someone new or when you're at the beginning of a conversation. This month, let's practise writing dialogues about the weather. 

Your Task

1. Review some weather vocabulary and expressions.

2. Think of a person who lives on the other side of the world where the weather is different from your weather.  Choose a MyEC member, a celebrity, a friend, or a family member.

3. Look up the weather in your city and in the other person's city. Take notes about the temperature, precipitation, wind, etc. in both locations.

4. Create a new blog post. Use the title: Writing Challenge - Weather Chat. Write the beginning of a telephone conversation between you and the other person you chose. You will only talk about the weather. 

5. Publish your post and share a link to it in the comments below.

My Example

Tara: Hi Kandy. How's the weather in Sydney? 

Kandy: Hi Tara. It's pretty rainy here today. How's the weather in Toronto? 

Tara: It's freezing here. The last time I checked it was minus twelve (-12°C). 

Kandy: Wow. That is very cold. I thought it was chilly here. It's only eighteen degrees (18 °C). It's below seasonal.

Tara:  Below seasonal?! With the windchill, it's minus twenty (-20 °C) here! 

Kandy:  Well, it's summer here, after all. It's supposed to get really hot here in a few days. I just checked the forecast. There's a high of twenty-eight (28 °C) on Wednesday. 

Tara: I'm so jealous. Is it humid in Sydney at this time of year? It's very dry here. My lips are chapped. 

Kandy: Yes, it's very humid here at this time of year. Every day is a bad hair day. 

Tara: Well, we have one thing in common. I have a bad hair day every day from wearing a toque. This winter hasn't been too bad, though. I can't complain.

Kandy: Really? It gets colder than minus twenty (-20 °C)?

Tara: Well, sometimes these cold spells last a long time. We had a horrible winter last year. We were in a deep freeze for months. There hasn't been too much snow this year. 

Kandy: My kids would love to see some snow. 

Tara: The kids love to stay home from school when there's a blizzard. We haven't had a bad one this year, though. 

Kandy: Knock on wood! 

Tara: I know. They were calling for two feet of snow in New York yesterday, but the storm didn't materialize. 

Kandy: They are calling for thunderstorms here. The dogs hate when there's thunder and lightning. 

Tara: Well, I'm not as jealous now knowing it's not beach weather. I thought it was always hot and sunny in Sydney. 

Kandy: Not today. It's cloudy. We're hoping to head to the beach for a picnic on Wednesday. I'll send you a picture. 

Tara: Thanks. Maybe it will warm me up! 

*Please read some blog posts by Writing Challenge participants. Leave a comment about your own weather in the comments of their post. 

Happy Holidays! If you haven't seen me around MyEC for a few days, it's because I've been busy baking, cooking, eating, and celebrating the holidays with my family and friends. One of the best things about holiday time is enjoying delicious food that we only make once a year. This month, let's teach each other how to make a dish, dessert, or snack that we enjoy on special occasions. If enough members join this challenge, I'll make a recipe eBook or slideshow out of our collection! 

Your Task: 

1. Brainstorm a list of food and treats (or a beverage) that you like to cook, bake, or prepare for special occasions. 

2. Choose one recipe that you want to share with MyEC Members. 

3. Introduce your recipe by giving a little background about it. What's the name of the dish or treat? Who/where did you get the recipe from? When do you make this recipe? If you have a photograph, share it in your post.

4. Write out the recipe for us. Include the name, the ingredients list, the directions, and the amount of time it takes to make. For the directions, be sure to use the imperative verb form: Beat the eggs. Mix the batter. Add the sugar. 

5. After you publish your recipe, share a link to it in the comments below. Read other recipes and choose one to try! Share a photograph of your dish. 

My Example: 

Gramma Blankie's Christmas Snack

My children always called my husband's mom Gramma Blankie because she made their baby blankets. Every Christmas, Gramma Blankie always made a giant batch of her special Christmas snack, which she called "Nuts & Bolts". Gramma died a few years ago, but I have kept up the tradition in her honour, and we call this snack Gramma Blankie's Christmas Snack. Making (and eating) the Christmas snack reminds me of my mother-in-law, and helps keep her spirit alive. This Christmas snack is easy to make and handy to have around the house when guests pop by over the holidays. 

Ingredients

• 1 box (or 4 cups) of Cheerios cereal 
• 1 box (or 4 cups) of Shreddies cereal 
• 1 box of cheese crackers (squares or sticks)
• 1 bag of pretzel sticks
• 1 tin or jar of mixed nuts (cashews, peanuts, etc.)
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (add more if you like it spicy)
• 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 1/2 tsp celery salt
• 1 tsp seasoning salt
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pound of butter 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250°.
2. Fill a large roasting pan with all of the ingredients (except the butter).
3. Mix the ingredients with a large spoon.
4. Slice the butter evenly over the snack mix.
5. Place the roaster pan uncovered in the oven and bake for 1.5 hours. 
6. Stir every 15-20 minutes to make sure the butter melts over the entire mix. 
7. Set a bowl of Gramma Blankie's Christmas snack on a table, and watch it disappear. 

Note: You can substitute any of your favourite cereals or crackers. You may not have room for all of the ingredients. I use the large roasting pan that I cook my turkey in. I always make a special gluten-free batch for my brother to enjoy separately. I substitute the Shreddies, Cheerios, crackers, and pretzels for gluten-free Chex cereal and gluten-free pretzels. I also give away tins (this year decorative boxes) of this snack to my neighbours with a homemade Christmas card (see photo).

Here is my (very short) story for Luci's (very) Short Story Challenge. I'm afraid it is a tiny bit longer than 70 words. Tough challenge! 

The Blogger that Saved the Day

It was nearing the end of November when I realized I hadn’t posted a Writing Challenge on MyEC. I grabbed my journal, and started jotting down ideas. Suddenly, the lights went out. An alien appeared in front of me and made just one demand.

“Give me your journal.”

I tried to grab a knife, but it was too late. The alien was already wrapping me up in a roll of toilet paper. It said if I didn’t hand over my journal, it would destroy all of the books in my house and scatter the pages on a remote island.

The thought of this was torture, so I handed over my journal. Fortunately, another blogger wrote the Writing Challenge this month. Thanks, Luci! 

Hi everyone, 

Have you heard the NEW EnglishClub Learning Song that Jonathan made for us? 

It would be fun to make another version of this song with the help of MyEC members. Do you have any ideas? Here are two ideas.

• a karaoke version with MyEC members singing along
• (Remember our version of Heal the World that Junco organized? I listened to it today and teared up a little.)
• a version with MyEC member pictures (perhaps members could hold up a page with their country on it or their favourite thing about being a member)

Help us think of some more ideas. If you want to be involved in the development of another version of this theme song, please leave a comment saying "count me in." Don't forget to share your ideas!

For this month's Writing Challenge, we're going to write some simple riddles. I believe we've done this activity before on MyEC, though it was quite a while ago! 

Your Task

1. Think of a costume that you might wear for Halloween (or a costume party). 

2. Use a few short sentences to describe the character or thing. This is a riddle, so don't make it too easy. Try to use at least 10 adjectives.

3. After your description, ask your readers the following question: What Am I? 

4. When someone guesses correctly (in the comments), add another riddle to your post (if you want to). If you plan on adding more than one riddle, be sure to number them!

My Example #1

I'm sly and mischievous. 

I'm large and furry. 

My teeth are pointy and sharp. 

I have long claws and I'm always hungry.

I enjoy haunting little pigs and old grandmothers. 

What Am I? 

This month we are going to practise giving advice. I want to challenge you to experiment with "personification". This is when you give human qualities or characteristics to something that is not human. 

Your Task 

1. Choose a "thing" that you want to pretend to be. You are going to write from the perspective of this thing. It can be a living thing, but not a human. 

2. Open a new blog post. Use the title: Writing Challenge: Advice from a/the ___________ . Offer some advice to humans from the perspective of the "thing" you chose.  Try to include 3-10 items in your list. You can use Do's and Don'ts or just Do's or just Don'ts. Be sure to use the imperative. 

3. Publish your advice piece. Come back to this post and leave a link to your post. 

4. Leave comments on other bloggers' posts. When you leave a comment, address the thing that wrote the post (not the writer). When you receive a comment, try to stay in character. In other words, try to respond from the perspective of this thing. 

OPTIONAL: Your writing can be in the form of a poster, such as Advice from a Tree. 

My Example: 

Advice from The Internet 

1. Don't Trust Me 

I may tell the truth, but I may stretch the truth or even tell lies. If you're going to quote me or use me for research, be sure to do your homework. In other words, make sure that you double check (make that triple check) my sources. 

2. Don't Tell Me Everything

I may ask you for personal information and files, such as your full name, your picture, and a password. Sometimes it's safe to tell me, but not always. Some people use me to  steal your information. They may steal your money or make your life miserable. Use me in a safe space. 

3. Don't Copy My Pictures and Words

Yes, I offer some stunning images. Yes, I often use just the right words. You may be tempted to copy my pictures and words and pretend they are your own. This is against the law. It is also dishonest. You are a creative, talented person. Draw and take your own pictures. Write your own stories and thoughts. If you find something interesting when you're looking at me, share it instead of copying it. 

4. Don't Stop Reading Books

It can be tempting to surf my waves all day long. You can waste a lot of time if you use me without a plan. Instead, why not go to the library and pick up a book. You can learn a lot from books. Support your local bookstores and libraries. They may disappear if you don't.

5. Don't Spend Too Much Time With Me

I have a lot of interesting information to share with you. You may even become obsessed with me. Don't forget about the sun and the moon and the trees, though. They have a lot of important things to share too. The more time you spend with me, the harder it is to break free from me. Try living without me once in a while. When you're hanging out with friends or family members, you don't really need me.

Have you heard of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals? In the year 2000, at the Millennium Summit, leaders from around the world identified 8 of the world's biggest problems. They set a goal of fixing these problems in 15 years.

On MyEC, we come from many different nations and have many different concerns just like the UN members. This month, let's form our own mini UN and write about some of the world's biggest problems. 

Your Task

1. Brainstorm a list of the world's biggest problems. Choose the one that is most important to you personally.

2. Start a new blog post. Use the title "Writing Challenge: The World's Biggest Problem". You can also add the topic that you chose to your title. For example: "Writing Challenge: The World's Biggest Problem (Clean Water).

3. Introduce the problem you chose and explain why it is one of the world's biggest problems in your opinion. Give a personal example of why this is a major concern for you. 

4. Offer possible solutions to the problem. (Demonstrate your understanding of how to use conditionals: "If we don't stop polluting the air, we won't have sunshine.")

5. End your post with a comment or two about the future. Will we be able to overcome this problem in the future? If yes, when and how? If no, what will become of the earth and its people?

6. Proofread and publish your post. Leave a link to your post in the comments below.

English Tip: Follow "one of my" or "one of the" with a plural noun. 

One of my friends is rich. 

One of my teachers is going to Mexico. 

One of my sisters is a marine biologist. 

My Example

The World's Biggest Problem: Waste

Did you eat all of your dinner last night? Did you throw out a coffee cup today? How many pairs of jeans are hanging in your closet? 

In my opinion, waste is one of the biggest problems in the world. Food waste leads to obesity and world hunger. Recreational shopping contributes to child labor and modern slavery. Plastic beverage bottles (a complete waste) pollute our oceans and contribute to global warming. The need for bigger houses and businesses leads to clear cutting and animal extinction. Waste is at the root of all of these major problems.

I recently did a food waste experiment in my own home. I tracked how many servings of food we wasted in a month. If my son wasted his dinner, I tracked it. If we threw out rotting vegetables, I tracked it. If we went out for a meal and didn't finish what we ordered, I tracked it. At the end of the month, we were all astonished to see how much food we had wasted. We learned that most of our food waste comes from fresh produce and leftovers that go bad in our fridge. We made a few changes to our daily routines. For example, we don't buy extra berries just because they are on sale anymore. They spoil quickly. We also freeze leftovers instead of placing them in the fridge. 

Some countries have a food waste tax. I think this is a good idea. If we were all responsible for paying for garbage, we might become less wasteful. Maybe there should also be a tax for owning more than three pairs of jeans! After all, the more clothes we have the more laundry we do. Laundering wastes a lot of water. 

The old proverb "waste not, want not" makes a lot of sense to me. If we don't waste the earth's resources, we should always have enough. Is it too late? I don't think so. I believe that humans are intelligent beings who will eventually realize that the earth can't sustain life at the rate we're going. If we want our grandkids to have clean oceans to swim in and clean air to breathe, we'll have to stop keeping up with the Joneses and start finding ways to reduce our consumption. 

Where were you born? This country is called your native country. It it also your homeland and your birthplace. Is it where you belong? This month, I'd like you to tell us about the land of your birth and your sense of belonging.

Your Task
1. Watch and listen to "Vseki den" by EnglishClub's musician Jonathan Taylor Britunculli.
2. Create a new blog post. Use the title: Writing Challenge - The Land of My Birth
3. Tell us where you were born and where you feel most at home. Comment on your sense of loyalty. Do you feel that you belong in your homeland, or are you more comfortable living and working in another country? What about your hometown? Do you feel a sense of belonging there?
4. Publish your post and share a link to it in the comments below!

Go see what is there 

In this beautiful world

But don't forget to return

To the land of your birth

It's where you belong

~ Vseki den, Jonathan Taylor Britunculli

Useful vocabulary
patriotic: showing or feeling loyalty to one's country

loyal: staying true to one person or thing

hometown: the city you were born (and/or) raised in

brain drain: the loss of intelligent or skilled workers from a country

expatriate (expat): a person who lives outside his or her native country

national pride: love or devotion for one's homeland

My Example:

The Land of My Birth
I was born in Vancouver, Canada.  I love being a Canadian! I consider myself a patriotic person. I feel a strong sense of national pride when I watch Canadians compete in the Olympic Games. 

I've lived in a few different areas of Canada, and I feel most at home in the province of British Columbia where I was born. However, I didn't spend my childhood there. I grew up in Ontario, which is quite far from BC (about a five hour plane ride). I moved back to BC after university and started a family there. My family moved back to Ontario to be close to my brothers and their families for a while. It's wonderful to watch the cousins growing up together! 

Though I feel a strong sense of belonging in Canada, I don't think I owe my country anything. I think people should feel free to explore the world and live wherever they feel at home.  I would be willing to live and work in another country if my children could receive a good education and it wasn't too expensive to live there. My husband would love to live in the southern United States where winters are mild. It's difficult for Canadians to get jobs in the US, though. We have a great healthcare system in Canada. Many retired Canadians live in the southern US for the winter, but come back to Canada every six months to benefit from our healthcare plan. 

Eventually, I will move back home to BC. The ocean, forests, mountains, and milder winters are calling my name...  

This month, I'd like to challenge you to plan a dinner party with a special guest of your choice! 

Your Task

1. Decide who you would invite for dinner. This can be anyone. Your guest can be dead, alive, famous, or even fictional (i.e. a character from a book or movie).

2. Decide what you would serve for dinner. 

3. Decide who else would be at the table. Would it be a dinner for two, or would you include friends or family members?

4. Write a paragraph explaining why you chose this dinner guest. What would you talk about at the dinner table?

5. Share a link to your post in the comments below. 

OPTIONAL: Challenge a MyEC friend to write a short dialogue between you and your dinner guest. This dialogue can be written in the comments of your post. 

TIP: You will be using the word "would" in your writing a lot. Review the uses of "would" here.

My Example

If I could invite anyone over for dinner, I would invite Anne of Green Gables. I would love to meet Anne in person. She is one of my favourite fictional characters, and I think she would be a fun person to meet.

I don't know what I would feed Anne Shirley. I guess it would depend how old she was when she arrived. It would be fun to meet her at age 10. I would love to see how she interacted with my ten-year-old daughter. My daughter is much more sensible than Anne, but they do have some similarities. They both appreciate good writing and parties. They both talk a lot. I would probably ask a chef to come and cook for us. There's a local chef in my city that I really like. I would ask him to come over to make goat cheese perogies and spinach salad with strawberries and pecans.

I'd get out my mom's special silverware for the occasion. I think Anne would appreciate pretty dinner napkins, too.I would probably invite a few of my daughter's girlfriends to dine with us. I'd tell them to dress up for the occasion. 

I would keep my notebook handy to jot down any of Anne's dramatic monologues. I think she would dominate the conversation. Maybe she would tell us tales about PEI. 

I would make sure there were lots of fresh flowers in the house. I would ask her to make up names for some of my plants in the garden. I would also ask her to sign my guestbook. (I would need to get a guestbook first.)

It would be a dream come true to have Anne Shirley as a dinner guest. I wouldn't extend the invitation to Marilla Cuthbert, though. 

This month I challenged our bloggers to write about their fathers in honour of Father's Day (June 15, 2014). I was pleasantly surprised that so many members decided to participate. Our members have shown me that dads are doing an amazing job around the world. This writing collection is dedicated to the dads of all MyEC members as well as the MyEC members who are dads themselves. Happy Father's Day! 

Please follow the links to read these incredible tributes, poems, and stories. Don't forget to leave comments for our brave bloggers: 

Stephen from Indonesia: My Father

Samu (Rush) from Sri Lanka: You 

Mishaikh from Pakistan: This is my Father 

Ashwini from India: My Father The Saint 

Kami from Pakistan: The Perfect Dad

Salma from Nigeria: Daddy Dearest

Noaslpls from Malaysia: Two Wonderful Fathers 

Mitran from Vietnam: My Father The Farmer 

M. Hakim from Bangladesh: A Short Biography of My Dad 

Dimi_Dimi from Indonesia: My Father, My Second World 

Helena from Armenia: A Kind and Positive Father 

Afroza from Bangladesh: A Supportive Father 

Saba from Iran: The Sun of my Life 

Luzzi from Czech Republic: My Father, Dad, Papa 

Garima from India: My First Hero

Sana Farooq from Pakistan: My Handsome Dad 

Syed from Pakistan: A Walk With My Father

Fleur from Algeria: Papa 

Robbie from the Philippines: My Father The Faithful Husband 

Rabab from Sudan: My Father The Ever-Caring 

Libor Kocian from Czech Republic: How Fatherhood Has Changed Since I was a Kid 

Bianca from Albania: Five Years Without My Father 

Mickey from China: A Poem for Daddy 

Shishok from Armenia: Sometimes We Meet in My Dreams 

Stranger in the Night: Like Father, like Son

Barbare: My Best Friend

Sumathi from India: Unravelling of a Father

Alice E: A Father's Day Story

Marie: A Struggle of Father and the Joy of Family

Note: If you want me to change the name of your tribute or poem, (or if you want it removed from this collection) please send me a private message. Also, it is not too late to participate in this challenge. The instructions are here. Leave a link in the comments after you post your blog, and I will add your post to this collection. Thanks for your participation! 

Father's Day is coming up in a few weeks (Sunday, June 15), and I thought some of you might want to do some writing about fathers, father figures, or fatherhood in general.

Here are some possible writing topics to explore in June. This month I'm not going to assign a special format or assignment. You can choose any of the following topics and write a blog in any way you please. Let's make a Father's Day collection of writing! 

Your Task

1. Choose a topic from the list below. 

2. Add a new blog post. Use the title, Writing Challenge: Fathers.

3. Write your post. Check for spelling, formatting, punctuation, etc.

4. Publish your post and share a link to it in the comments below. 

Father's Day Writing Topics

How Fatherhood Has Changed Since I was a Kid

The Best Thing About Being A Father (for the MyEC Dads)

A Father Figure In My Life (Tell us about someone who is like a father to you.)

Daddy Dearest (Why you love your dad.)

A Letter To My Dad (For a dad who is far away or no longer with you.)

A Short Biography Of My Dad

A Fictional Story About A Bad/Good Dad

A Father's Day Poem

My Father the _______________ (tell us something interesting about your dad)

My Example: 

My Father The Globetrotter 

My dad loves to travel. When I was in high school, my dad won a trip to Portugal. My mom and dad had a wonderful time in Europe. It was their first trip abroad. My parents were bitten by the travel bug, and began taking many vacations. They mainly enjoyed all-inclusive island destinations such as St. Martin and Dominican Republic. My brothers and I enjoyed a lot of freedom!

When my mom passed away unexpectedly at the age of 51, everyone worried about my dad. What would he do without her? My parents had been high school sweethearts. 

My dad surprised us all by continuing to explore the world. He retired a few years later, and then got remarried. Lucky for my dad, his new bride loves to travel as well. My dad's wife is semi-retired, which allows her to travel whenever she pleases.  

When people ask, "How's your dad?" I don't always know how to respond. The question in my mind is usually, "Where's my dad?".  It's difficult to keep track of which country my dad is in, let alone which continent! In recent years, he has been to Australia, Greece, Spain, Ireland, and Hawaii. Like many retirees, my father's travel mode of choice these days is cruising. 

One day, I hope my dad sits down for long enough to write about his journeys. I'm sure he has great stories that I have never heard! 

I recently came across an interesting storytelling website called Six Word Stories. Do you think you could write a story in six words? This may sound like the easiest challenge I've given you, but, in truth, it may be the most difficult! 

Your Task

1. Review some examples of Six Word Stories for inspiration.

2. Add a new blog post. Use the title Writing Challenge: A Six Word Story 

3. Write your own six word story. Keep the following in mind:

• Punctuation is allowed. Your story can be more than one sentence. 
• The story must have exactly six words. A contraction (I'm, we're, they've) counts as one.
• Your reader should be able to visualize a beginning, a middle, and an ending to your story.
• Do NOT copy a story or idea that you read. Write your own story, please. 

4. After you write your story, think about which category or genre it belongs to. Place the genre above your story. Here are some to pick from: 

• A sad story
• A crime story
• A science fiction story
• A love story
• A comedy
• A true story

5. (Optional) Share one of the best stories you read on Six Word Stories. Tell us what you like about it. Provide a link to the page you found it on and credit the author. (See my example below.)

6. Share a link to your post in the comments below. When you read a Six Word Story by a MyEC blogger, leave a comment and suggest a title for the story. 

My Six Word Story

Category: A Love Story 

She washed the dishes. He dried. 

A story on Six Word Stories that I liked: 

Category: Mistakes

"One candle, unattended. Only ashes remain."

By Alexia

I like Alexia's story because it shows how quickly life can change. It's a really sad story. I enjoy candlelight, but I prefer battery operated candles because I don't trust myself not to make this mistake. I have a few candles that look real, but aren't.  

*This month's writing challenge was inspired by the saddest book ever written.

"The most powerful way to win an argument is by asking questions. You'd be surprised at how it can make people see the flaws in their logic." via @LifeHacks

Have you heard the expression "life hack"? This is a trendy expression that is commonly used as a blog topic. A "life hack" is a creative solution (or a creative way of doing something) that makes life easier. A life hack usually simplifies a task. It is often something that many other people don't know or realize.

When you share a life hack, life becomes a little easier for someone else. Our community includes members from all over the world. I bet you have some useful life hacks to share! This month, let's make life easier for each other.

Your Task

1. Brainstorm some of the things that you have learned over the years to make life easier. This may be things you learned from your parents, friends, or teachers. You may have also learned life hacks from articles or videos. 

2. Choose 3-5 of the best life hacks on your list. Try to choose things that you think others may not think of. Also, choose things that you think many people will benefit from.

3. Create a new blog post. Use the title: "Writing Challenge: Life Hacks". 

4. Write your blog post in list form. Use the base form (imperative) of a verb for each item. Write a short description after each item. 

5. Do some research on life hacks, or ask your friends if they know any. Add a BONUS Life Hack at the bottom of your list that you plan to try. Share a link or provide the source. 

6. Proofread your post for punctuation and spelling. Make sure that it is formatted clearly. Publish your post and share a link to it in the comments below. 

My Example:
My Life Hacks

1. Open A Jar With A Spoon

I used to have trouble opening jars. My husband often rescued me when he found me smacking a jar on the side of a counter or holding it under hot water. One day, somebody told me that all you need to do is let a tiny bit of air into the jar to break the seal. You can do this easily with a metal spoon. To break the seal of a jar, simply stick the tip of a spoon up into the crack between the jar and lid and push up. You may need to try a few different places around the lid. After you hear the pop, the lid becomes easy to unscrew. (The spoon may bend if it's not sturdy. Simply bend it back, or reserve this spoon for "jar duty") 

2. Buy Kids' Socks In One Colour

If you have small children, this can save you a lot of time and money. Avoid cute socks with stripes and patterns, and choose one type of sock for each child. When you find a type of sock that someone loves, buy a large amount of them. You won't have to match them when you're doing laundry, and if one gets a hole, you don't have to throw out two socks. This works for the whole family, actually. Unfortunately, my daughter always gets cute socks as gifts. My son only wears one type of sock, and he doesn't mind. 

3. Use Birthday Cards For Bookmarks

Instead of throwing out or recycling old greeting cards, cut your favourite ones into strips and use them as bookmarks. If you're a book lover like me, you probably have many different books on the go at one time. I sometimes write my favourite quotes on the backs of the bookmarks. This also makes a fun DIY teacher gift. We never run out of bookmarks in my family.

4. Use A Wooden Spoon To Prevent Water From Boiling Over

I recently learned a life hack for preventing water from boiling over in a pot. If you place a wooden spoon across the top of the lid, you can prevent a pasta pot from boiling over! The spoon will likely warp over time, so don't use your favourite one. I sometimes grab my wooden rolling pin if it's the closest thing.

BONUS - Type Unsubscribe Into Your Email Search Field

As the review editor of TEFLnet and EnglishClub, I test out a lot of language learning sites and educational tools each month. This often requires me to sign up for newsletters and updates. I rarely remember to "unsubscribe" to sites or tools. Today I found a life hack for this problem. Simply type  "unsubscribe" into your email search field to bring up all of the sites that regularly send you stuff. Unsubscribe to the ones you are no longer interested in. Brilliant! (I hope you won't unsubscribe from EC, though.) 

I tried a new photo site today called "ThingLink". It's really fun! I used this image to create my first ThingLink. When you touch it on the site, the photo becomes interactive. Touch this photo. Then try making your own: www.thinglink.com

Unfortunately, the embedded photo option doesn't allow the links to show up on MyEC. To Touch (interact with) the photo, you'll have to visit the site.

PS - World Book Day is on 6 March. What are you reading? Leave a comment on my ThinkLink, or below in the comments.

Thanks for sharing this site on Twitter, @Ozge! 

The MyEC blog feed is full of interesting blog posts! You will find:

What you won't find, unfortunately, is a bunch of well-written blog titles. In a recent comment on my No Blog Left Behind post, one of our long-term bloggers mentioned that she typically reads blogs that have good titles. This got me thinking about what makes a good blog title.

Blog Title Checklist

A good blog title should: 

• be short and to the point (You don't need to write complete sentences in a title.)
• have proper capitalization (Not all caps. Just caps on all initial letters, or caps on important words. eg How to Sing Beautifully OR How To Sing Beautifully)
• have proper spelling
• have proper (or no) punctuation (This is very important. Most titles do not need a period/full stop. I sometimes use a "colon" or "dash". A "question mark" may also be necessary in some titles.)
• be catchy (A title should make a person curious. Readers will want to click on the post.)
• descriptive (A good title usually says a bit about what the post will be about. It does this in as few words as possible.)

For this month's writing challenge we are going to work on writing good blog titles. I think it will help you increase your readership! 

Your Task  

1) Look through the MyEC blog list (Wow 14,000+ posts). You can go way, way back! Don't just look at recent blogs.

2) Find three blog post titles that meet the requirements of the blog title checklist above. (Please pick members' posts, not posts by admin/founder.) 

3) Create a new blog post. Use the title: Writing Challenge: Catchy Blog Titles

4) Provide the three titles that meet the requirements. (Include links to the posts if you know how.) Add a note about why you think each one is a good title. You can choose more than three if you want.

5) Now, write three future blog titles that YOU plan to write on MyEC in 2014. You don't have to write the posts now, but you can get started on one if you want. 

6) *Optional. Look at the titles of YOUR previous blog posts. Find one or two that could have been better and rewrite the title(s). Share the old and new version(s). 

7) Leave a comment below with a link to your post.

My Example 

A) Three Good MyEC Blog Titles

1) Did You Know? - It's a Horsey Year by Noaspls

I think this is a good title because people love to learn interesting facts. I like that this title didn't just say "Did you know?". The extra information about the "horse" was a key fact. Also, it showed some creativity. Instead of "The Year of the Horse", it said "a Horsey Year". Cute! 

2) What did we do before My English Club? by Shah

This is a catchy title because it is in the form of a question. MyEC can be addicting, and this is a question I think many MyEC members have! The capital letters are in the correct places, and the question is formatted perfectly.

3) Studying Grammar vs Using Grammar by Dayne

This title is formatted and worded perfectly. I know exactly what the post will be about, and it's a topic that learners and teachers will be interested in. The title is short and to the point! 

B) My 3 Future Blog Titles 

TESOL Portland - Guess The Memory Game

Writing Challenge: Indirect Questions

Motivational Secrets For English Learners

C) A Blog Title of Mine That Could be Better

Original Title: Voices Only 

This title was so short that it didn't give enough information. It met some of the requirements, but not all of them.

Improved Title: A NEW Blog Challenge: Voices Only

A few years ago, I traveled to England from Canada to do a special presentation about MyEC. I talked to hundreds of teachers about how I blog with English learners on EnglishClub. It was a fantastic experience, and many teachers vowed to get their students blogging when they returned to their own countries.

One thing that teachers were really excited about was a concept that we introduced long ago on MyEC: 

No Blog Left Behind

I explained that we (admin, mods, bloggers) do our very best to make sure that there is at least one comment on every MyEC blog post. It takes guts to write (and publish) in a language that is not your native language. I want English bloggers to feel comfortable and supported here on MyEC. Comments (with at least some positive feedback) can really help!

One of the perks of blogging on MyEC rather than other platforms is that you have an instant target audience. MyEC is made up of English language learners and teachers who are all here for a similar reason: to learn, practise, or teach English. Blogging together is a great way to get to know each other. It also allows us to practise learning AND teaching English in an informal way. 

Today, I noticed quite a few blog posts with No Comments. Because of this, I would like to ask our long-term members to recommit to our "No Blog Left Behind" policy. I'm also asking newer members to help us keep bloggers engaged!

If you're ever browsing through the Blog Feed, and you see a post that says "No Comments", please take a moment to read the blog post and write a quick response.

Also, if you see the tag "corrections" (meaning a blogger wants to be corrected), and you spot an English error (spelling/usage/formatting), please take a moment to provide an English tip.

Thank you, and keep blogging. I love watching your English improve one blog post at time. 

Tara 

PS - Please do not leave comments for spammers, and do not respond to plagiarized posts. Please report these blogs, so that we can remove them from our feed. Thank you!

My ten-year-old daughter was excited to take this month's writing challenge, too! She wrote this story tonight. She surprised me when she said: "It's a love story." 

A Love Story by JP

a length of rope
a strange light shining in the dark
a full restaurant
a divorced couple

About a week ago, a young man named Bob brought his wife, Lindsey, to a restaurant. He wanted to do something special with her because that night was the night when he was going to announce that he loved somebody else. Yes, it had to be the night, because though he had been trying to tell her for weeks, he kept putting it off. And he had already circled the date on the calendar to let her know that night was date night. The restaurant was very full.

"This place is packed!!!" Lindsey yelled over the noise. Finally, one family finished their dinner and the table opened as soon as it was cleaned. The couple sat down and Bob started to explain his wish for divorce. Lindsey covered her face and ran off before Bob had finished. Bob punched in Kate's number on his cell phone- Kate was the girl he'd fallen for. Her voice was muffled over the phone, but Bob could make out the statement that declared she agreed to meet him at the cinema to watch the new movie: Supermodel Fake. At the cinema, Bob realized that he felt bad leaving Lindsey behind for a girl he only picked because she was super-pretty. Kate acted very indifferent and stuck-up at the movies, so Bob wondered why he picked her, especially while he saw the movie was about someone who fell in love with a supermodel that only cared about herself. Bob even caught himself imagining Kate's face on the pretty supermodel in the movie. That night, Lindsey haunted Bob's dreams. He dreamt that Lindsey's face was captured in a strange humongous glow in a world of darkness, and he had to find a path towards her. He woke up screaming and wondering where Lindsey had run off to. He wanted her back, and he got out bed to have some breakfast before searching for her. A note lay on the tabletop:

'I ran away to the Street of Despair. I have no money or chance of getting a home. It always rains there. I miss you. I hope you and your "perfect girl" are very happy together.' ~Lindsey

Bob decided he had to get Lindsey back. And he had the perfect plan. He followed directions to the billboard factory to get something done. Then he rented a helicopter. He tied a slip knot at the bottom of a very long rope- it was about 10 feet long. He texted Kate and told her he was breaking up with her. Bob took the helicopter up over Despair Street and hovered right above where Lindsey was standing. He opened the trapdoor and let the rope tied to the billboard dangle out the bottom of the helicopter. In huge letters the billboard read:

I WANT YOU BACK, LINDSEY! I MISS YOU! AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: I LOVE YOU!!

Lindsey's jaw dropped and Bob let a rope ladder down from the helicopter. Lindsey climbed it, and Bob and Lindsey remarried and- just like fairy tale endings- lived happily ever after.

THE END

By JP

Thank you to Marisa for sharing your Giant Storymaker.

Here is my story for this month's Writing Challenge. Thank you to Marisa for introducing us to the Great Storymaking Tool. This story uses words and phrases found with #38.  

The Last Laugh

Once upon a time there was a prince named James. James hated being part of the royal family, so he ran away with some gypsies from his hometown.

The gypsies were bored one day, so they stole a speedboat from the local marina. It was supposed to be a simple pleasure cruise, but something went terribly wrong. The engine died, and they had no paddles.

James worried for a few moments, until he remembered that he was a prince!
"Fear not," he said to the other gypsies. "I shall call my father, the king. He shall send out a rescue team at once."

The other gypsies on board laughed when they heard James speak. Nobody used words like "shall" in their group unless they were telling fortunes. 

"But how are ya gonna call him?" the only female gypsy asked, for she had dropped her iPhone into the ocean when she jumped into the boat. None of the other gypsies (not even the prince) had thought to bring a phone. 

Suddenly another boat appeared in the distance. The gypsies jumped up and down, and made as much noise as they could, until the boat began to approach.

When the fishing boat came within shouting distance, the gypsies noticed there was only one man on board.

"You must help us!" Prince James demanded. "Our engine died, and we need to get ashore."

"That's a lovely boat you've got," the fisherman replied. "It is almost as nice as mine," he bragged. "Wherever did you find it?"

The female gypsy flashed the fisherman a smile, which wasn't as bright as it should have been since she hadn't brushed in years.

"It's my father's boat," she lied. "My father – the king."

"The king of what?" the fisherman laughed, for he knew very well that the king had no children other than a son who had run away to join a band of good-for-nothing gypsies. He recognized this woman at once, for she had read his fortune recently in the town square. You shall have the last laugh, the gypsy had said.  

"The king of the land!" the gypsy sputtered, for she didn't want to say the wrong king.

"And what, may I ask, is a princess doing in the middle of the ocean with all of these gypsies? Can't you call home?"

"I've been kidnapped," the female gypsy said, for she was running out of ideas. "They have stolen my phone!" she pointed at the men behind her.

The fisherman laughed. "I'm afraid I don't have a phone either," he said, "for mine was stolen just last week in the town square."

"What a pity," the female said.

"Even though I can't fit all of you in my boat, I think I could be of some help," he added.

"Great!" the female gypsy said. She let out a big sigh of relief and waited to be invited onboard.

The fisherman grabbed an old toothbrush that he used to polish his boat, and tossed it to the gypsy. "It looks like you need this more than I do," he said, flashing his pearly whites. "You'll want to look your best when you're rescued by the king." 

It has been a while since we've written fiction together in a Writing Challenge! My friend Marisa, an English language teacher trainer in Greece, recently shared a fun tool for teachers to use in class. It's called the Giant Storymaker. It's always fun to try classroom activities and games in an online environment like MyEC. Sometimes they work very well! For example: (Jeopardy? | Don't Say Yes or No | Have you Ever?| Homograph Challenge)

Your Task 

1. Pick a two-digit number from 1-9. My number will be 38. (Don't pick the same number!) I promise not to change mine after I look at the Storymaker. You must promise this too! If you don't trust yourself, ask a friend to pick a number for you.

2. Visit Marisa's Giant Storymaker. You will see four grids. There is one for Characters, Places, Situations, and Objects. Find your number in all four grids, and write down the word or phrase that you see.

3. Start a new blog post. Use this title: "Writing Challenge: Story by Numbers".

4. Write a short story using these four ideas. Keep it short and simple. 

5. Share a link to your story in the comments below! 

6. OPTIONAL: Ask a MyEC friend to read your story and draw a picture to go with it! Have your friend take a picture of their drawing. Upload the picture to go with your story. 

Story Writing Checklist

My Story

As many of you know, I always take my own blog challenges! My story will follow in a subsequent blog post. I picked 38. This is what I got: 

Character: The prince of the gypsies 

Place: In the middle of the ocean

Situation: Running out of ideas

Object: An old toothbrush

NOTE: I'm going to pick two characters from the storymaker. You can as well. To add another character, simply go +1 in the grid. My second character is #39: "a fisherman who brags" - handy!)

*At the end of your story, please share a link to Marisa's Giant Storymaker, so that we can give proper credit to her. Thank you!

On my way to my brother's house on Christmas Day, I checked my phone, and found an email from MyEC's video mod Robbie! As many of you know, Robbie lives in the Philippines. None of us had heard from him since early November when Typhoon Yolanda hit his country. We sent messages and worried and prayed. We also worried about Lynne, another active member of MyEC who has been with us since the very beginning. I cried tears of joy to receive the news on Christmas Day that Robbie was okay. The next day, I received a message from Lynne, saying that she too was safe! 

Here in Canada, we experienced an ice storm a few days before Christmas. Hundreds of thousands of people were out of power for up to three days. People worried that they wouldn't be able to cook a turkey on Christmas Day or finish their Christmas shopping. We complained that it took us a few hours to get our car doors open. When I heard that Robbie had been out of power for weeks and weeks and that he had been spending the last month repairing his home and sorting through damaged possessions, that really put life into perspective for me. We are so fortunate here in Canada, and I am very thankful for everything we have, including food, water, heat, electricity, Internet, furniture, and a roof over our heads.  

Our friends in the Philippines have been through some very difficult times. Please take a moment to leave a message for Robbie and Lynne and any other members you may know from the devastated areas. In Robbie's note, he mentioned that he had just received power and was able to send us a message, but it could still be a while before his Internet connection and electricity are fully restored. 

I'd also like to say a special thank you to Grace and Junko who have been looking after Robbie's duties as video mod for the past few weeks. Robbie said that he plans to come back to MyEC when he can, but for now, he must concentrate on rebuilding. We'll be right here waiting for you!