Hooked on Learning and Teaching English

On Thursday, I didn’t know today I was supposed to say, “shiver me timbers” or “scallywag.” Not until a coworker, who was born in England, grew up in Canada and who lives in the US, told me this morning.

This evening, the Brazilians who usually show up for English class were absent.

Celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day? I asked them what’s up in our WhatsApp group. 



A handful joined the Zoom meeting. None of them spoke like a swashbuckler.

But a student asked if I knew the song, “Sharing the Night Together”.

By Dr. Hook? Argh you serious?

The Music, Language Learning, and Pirate Gods had aligned.

I found the song on YouTube and then turned on the closed captioning so we could all listen to the music, read the lyrics, and watch the eye-patched Ray Sawyer tap on the conga drums.

Aw yeah, alright.

Then Dave Burke, a musician from Canada, joined us.

He hasn’t been to Brazil and asked what places would be cool to visit. My students, thrilled to hear a voice from a different native English speaker, jumped at the chance to make a case for Ceará, Praia Grande, Bahia, and São Paulo.

Curious about Brazil? Interested in helping teach English and not a scallywag?

What argh you waiting for?

Visit us at the Brasil-Boston Interchange (no matter where you're from).

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