"How can the Northern Lights help me learn English?" you ask. That's a good question, and I'll answer it in a few moments. But first, let's take a look at the Northern Lights . . .

Many years ago, people thought these beautiful dancing lights in the night sky were spirits of people or animals that had died. But even though the lights have lost some of their mystery, they haven't lost any of their beauty.

The real power behind the lights is the sun. We see those beautiful colors when charged particles from the sun hit the Earth's magnetic field. Oxygen glows red or yellow-green. Nitrogen glows red or blue.

Now, back to our question. How can the Northern Lights help you learn English? Psychologists tell us that we remember things that affect our EMOTIONS. You probably learned lists of vocabulary items, your multiplication tables, and lots of other facts in school. There's nothing wrong with rote learning, and there are times when it's the only way.

But I want to show you something very important . . .The KEY is to realize that anything that interests or amazes you will be easier to remember, so you want to TIE these special memories to your new language.

Imagine yourself studying English in Canada, for example. You've wanted to see the Northern Lights, and tonight your dream has come true. They're beautiful, aren't they? When you get back into the house that night, or the next day, turn this wonderful experience into an unforgettable English lesson.

First of all, how did you FEEL when you saw the sky come alive with light and movement?

Excited? Awed? Happy? Did you miss your family and friends, and wish you could share the experience with them?

Did you feel small when you looked at the big sky? Was it a good feeling? Were you alone or with someone?

How about the lights themselves? What color or colors were they? Did they dance? Were they in one part of the sky or did they move all over the sky? Could you see the stars behind them, or did they hide the stars?

Write down your feelings and experiences. Now, turn those feelings and experiences into an unforgettable language lesson.

Here are some ways: * Write about them in your journal. * Tell your friends about the Northern Lights in an English e-mail. * Write about them if your ESL teacher asks for a story or personal essay. * Research them on the Internet. Write your own article. Make a list of the new words you find. * Make an acrostic. It's a fun, creative way to develop your vocabulary. I've started one here to show you how.

N
O
R
T ruly Spectacular
H
E
R
N
L
I
G
H
T
Shimmering

This will work for almost any experience-good or bad, happy or sad, scary or fun-that provokes your interest or strong feelings. An interesting conversation with a new friend, skiing in the mountains for the first time, a happy evening with friends . . .

The KEY is to TIE your feelings and experiences to your new language.

Learn to do this, and you'll discover a wealth of language learning opportunities in your everyday life!

Margaret Welwood is an English as a Second Language Instructor, freelance writer and editor. She has taught English as a Second Language in Alberta, Canada, for over 25 years. To sign up for her free seven-part vocabulary course for adults, click here: http://www.teachyouryoungchild.ca/registration_form.htm

To learn how to prepare your young child for success in school, click here: http://www.teachyouryoungchild.ca