MSI Press Blog

  In the winding journey of foreign language acquisition, one deceptively simple skill can make the difference between a stalled conversation and a confident flow:  Shifting Gears . Originally outlined by Boris Shekhtman in  How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately , this tool allows learners to maintain fluency—even when they encounter unfamiliar vocabulary or complex topics—by artfully pivoting to terrain they know well. 🎯 What Is “Shifting Gears”? Imagine you’re driving through a foreign language conversation and hit a hill too steep: maybe it’s a political debate you’re not prepared for, or a scientific concept you don’t know the words for. Instead of grinding to a halt, you  downshift —you transition, smoothly and purposefully, to a topic you  can  discuss. And when done well, this move isn’t evasive—it’s strategic. It gives the impression (rightfully!) that you’re in control of the conversation, equipped with tools to communicate effectively ...

  When speaking a foreign language, there are always opportunities for errors—sometimes embarrassing ones. These can even occur in one’s first language, especially when an expression is unfamiliar. For example, at age twelve, I was the master (senior leader) of our local Junior Grange. That year, our group was selected to perform the degree ceremony at the State Grange. During the event, there was a moment when senior Grange leaders were invited to say a few words. The matron (our adult advisor) leaned over and whispered, “Ask if there are any big whigs here who would like to speak.” Not knowing the term “big whigs,” and unaware that I should have said something like “senior leaders,” I blurted out, “Do any of you big whigs out there want to say something?” Suffice it to say, no one volunteered. The matron turned bright red—on my behalf. Years later, while presenting at a conference in the UK, I spoke about teacher preparation in the United States. Someone asked if there we...

  You’ve mastered the basics. You know your “kick the bucket” from your “spill the beans.” But idioms aren’t just decorative—they’re diagnostic. They reveal cultural logic, emotional nuance, and linguistic rhythm. Level 3 is where many learners stall: they recognize idioms but don’t wield them with precision or purpose. Here’s how to break through: 🔹 Context is Queen Idioms don’t float—they anchor. “Bite the bullet” in a hospital vignette carries grit; in a parenting memoir, it signals quiet resolve. Expand your idiom use by mapping them to emotional tone, not just literal meaning. 🔹 Swap and Stretch Try substituting idioms mid-draft. “Let the cat out of the bag” becomes “the secret slipped through like steam.” You’re not abandoning idioms—you’re metabolizing them. 🔹 Idiomatic Echoes Use idioms to build narrative rhythm. A memoir chapter might open with “on thin ice” and close with “weathered the storm.” The echo creates cohesion and emotional payoff. 🔹 Cultural Calibra...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  He's a Porn Addict...Now What?  by Tony Overbay and Joshua Shea , which reached  #53 in sexual addiction & recovery on Amazon . Book description: Admitting you're a drug addict or alcoholic can be difficult, but when it comes to pornography addiction, the pain of betrayal can hit the addict's partner worse than the addict himself. Difficult questions come rushing: Does he look at this stuff because I'm not enough? Was he like this when I first met him? Is this God trying to test me? What kind of help is available for him? Am I just supposed to stay here and deal with this? With  He's a Porn Addict...Now What?: An Expert and a Former Addict Answer Your Questions , you'll get pertinent answers from both sides of the equation: from a therapist and from a former pornography addict. Keywords: porn addiction, recovery and healing, spouse and partner support, betrayal trauma, sexual addiction, marriage and relationships, ther...