It’s not the first time subtitles in English have been used for English-language movies that feature strong regional accents. The movie Trainspotting was partially re-dubbed to make the Glaswegian accents more intelligible for American audiences. Ken Loach’s blue-collar comedy Riff-Raff was also subtitled because American studio chiefs feared the heavy accents of the British working-class would be impenetrable to stateside audiences. Same for the working-class drama Nil by Mouth – again, this time English subtitles were provided because the heavy South London accents were hard for some people to make out, even if their native tongue was English!

It should be a consolation for anybody trying to master the English language and who has been confounded by the bewildering array of different regional accents. From Glaswegian to Irish, Australian to the Texas drawl, the English language is not just about phrasal verbs and a set of grammar rules. Accents also help shape and colour the things we say, and even among us English-language natives, we sometimes have trouble understanding each other. So, next time you’re frustrated by someone’s accent, don’t lose hope, it may not be because your English is not up to par.

If you’re watching a DVD, you may be able to find subtitles. If you are trying to understand your new mate in a Scottish pub, you may have to ask him or her to repeat, because unfortunately we haven’t yet invented subtitles for real-life.

Often we spend time analysing the big picture, the whole forest rather than the individual trees. Sometimes little changes in our daily routines can make big differences in our lives. One thing we overlook is how technology has crept into our lives: things like emails, SMS, PDA’s – sure, they’ve opened up a world of possibilities, but have they really made our lives more efficient?

Besides all the obvious benefits of instant communication, it could easily be argued that they are distracting us unnecessarily. In fact, some observers say that many of us suffer from a sort of electronically-induced ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

Take meetings, for example. It might be hard to fathom, but once upon a time we didn’t have portable devices that allowed us to instantly respond to emails from wherever we were. Now, cell phones are generally on and PDA’s (Portable Digital Assistant) are present at every meeting. Some people, in fact, gauge a meeting’s success by the inverse ratio of number of people tapping on their PDA’s per person talking – the more people typing on their PDA’s rather than listening, the less effective the meeting.

Part of the problem is that proper etiquette has not been established in this area, and it is not as simple as banning mobile devices from meetings. As we all know, the adage “time is money” applies here – and a late response to an email can cost a company business. However, it is also costly to have people in meetings who are disengaged from the topic. The challenge is to establish a norm on when it is essential for someone to answer immediately, and when it could wait.

Now, let’s imagine the meeting is in English. Sometimes it’s hard enough to follow a meeting in your own language, especially if a lot of new information is being thrown at you. Obviously, you need to be on your toes a lot more when a meeting is conducted in English. This means you need to lose all distractions, and that means foregoing things like checking incoming messages.

Many people say they have difficulty following a meeting that is not in their native tongue, and many of these same people will also admit that they were checking their messages throughout the meeting. It may sound like a small, moot point, but in most instances responding to incoming messages immediately is not necessary. It can be, however, a costly distraction.

So, while you are taking a break from the routine this summer, also take a moment to think about what you can do when you get back to make your work life a little saner and with a lot fewer distractions.

Who said anything about studying? (In fact, we won’t even mention learning.) Time off is for enjoying oneself and having fun, so why not try doing it in English?

Here are 3 simple ideas for keeping your English in shape while on holidays:

Be a guiri in you own country! That’s right, guiri, the term used in Spain for typical tourists types (especially British, American and Northern European) who come to Spain and never bother to learn a word of Spanish.

If you decide to go to a museum or exhibition, why not take the tour in English? This could come in the form of a handheld audio guide, or a person giving the explanations. A little practice now and then makes it easier when you get back to work and have to start using the language again.

What about getting a lunch menu in English? Don’t worry! It doesn’t mean you have to eat English food! Just try ordering in English, as many restaurants have staff ready and waiting to help guiris order their meal in English. This will help you get ready for the next time you go for a meal with foreign colleagues, not just when you are abroad, but also when they come here to visit and you need to help them order.

By the way, web sites catering to tourists offer a tonne of things to do that you may not have known about.

You could also pick up a local guide or magazine that caters to English-speaking ex-pats, and find out what activities are going on. Wherever there are guiris, there will definitely be cultural and social events and get-togethers. This could be a great way to have fun and speak with English natives.

Turn on the tube … in English. Have access to satellite TV? While you’re getting dressed in the morning, why not turn on the news in English? Even if you’re not fully paying attention, your brain will stay connected to the language; passive listening can have a positive effect. Staying in contact with the language will help keep it familiar to your ear, and your brain.

Follow your hobby … in English. Are you and avid birdwatcher? Do you love the adrenaline rush you get from skydiving? Deep-sea fishing? Tennis? Stamp collecting? Start following your hobby in English; read about it and find others who share your passion, and if you can, go and do it in English. When you are enjoying yourself, soon you’ll forget you’re even learning.

If you don’t have an aversion to computers on your holidays, why not follow some of your interests online in English? With a familiar subject, you will be surprised how much you are able to understand just from the context. Try googling something you are interested in, and check out a few sites.

Here are some links to check out if you have some time and feel like it:

Watching
Videojug is basically an online ‘encyclopaedia of life’. Put your feet up, relax, and watch something inspiring.
TED. Videos with ideas worth spreading….

Playing
Akoha is the world’s first social reality game where you can earn points by playing real-world missions with your friends. Missions might include giving someone your favourite book, inviting a friend for drinks, or buying a friend some chocolate. It is still in a beta stage, but it sounds like fun and worth taking a look.
Lumosity. Try this brain training site free for 7 days. The games are actually quite addictive!

Reading
Wowio. Yes, some things in life are free!!! This site has a nice library of e-books. You can red them online for free, or pay a small fee to download the book as a pdf.
Fark. A classic site for information junkies, people who like odd news, and those who just like to have a laugh at the headlines written by submitters.

The most important thing is to keep in contact with the language this summer, even if it is passive contact. Do yourself a favour; do something to avoid losing everything you’ve gained this year. Just remember, keeping your English in shape is a lot like working out: if you don’t use it, you lose it!