The word "to" causes a lot of confusion for English language learners.  Why?  "To" can play very different roles in English grammar.  "To" can be a preposition, or it can be a verbal particle.  It can play both of these roles in the same sentence.  

For the full text, go to https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/two-different-roles-for-the-word-to/.

Difficult English Explained

Two different roles for the word "to"

People often ask: What’s the difference between ‘I saw it’ and ‘I have seen it’?
They both sound like the same thing—but actually, they’re not! Let’s break it down."

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In the introductory episode, I answer why I think it's important to look at asking questions as an art. I give my background, anecdotes, and hypotheticals to display what trying to achieve with this podcast. While I use a lot of complex vocabulary, I try to speak in a slower cadence so that learners in a wide range of levels can try to understand. Hope you enjoy! 

The Art of Asking Questions

Episode 1: Introduction

A short story about a brother and sister. who live in the hills of Spain. Asked Christmas Eve is approaching and their excitement.

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In part two, Teacher Smith discusses how our brains learn best. They explain that traditional English lessons often struggle to help us remember words, especially when we try to translate them. Teacher Smith suggests that emotional connections help us remember words better, similar to how we know song lyrics by heart.

They introduce mnemonics as memory tricks, like acronyms or phrases, to aid in remembering information. However, while helpful for tests, mnemonics can be slow to recall and aren't ideal for speaking fluently.

Teacher Smith then introduces "Word Webs," which are interconnected networks of words that help with memory retention. They compare word webs to spider webs, emphasizing their resilience even if some connections are lost.

The episode reveals the "Billion-Dollar Memory Secret," explaining how leading companies secure top-of-mind awareness. They highlight the challenge for new companies to establish themselves in consumers' minds and draw parallels to remembering new words automatically.

Finally, Teacher Smith discusses the challenge of replacing memories in the brain, especially when learning a new language. They explain how thinking in one's native language can hinder the recall of English words and suggest creating new mental categories to bridge the gap.

In the next episode, Teacher Smith promises to explore solutions to this problem.