Did Napoleon do his English homework?

Napoleon's homework

       What is the best way to learn to speak and write in English? The most effective way is by speaking and writing in English. Students speak during the lesson, and between the lessons the students should try to write a sentence or two every day, perhaps by writing a sort of diary. It does not need to be long or complicated, just a few sentences about how the day went. Or they can choose to write a little letter or email to their teacher. In fact, all the communication with the teacher even through text-messages or email should be in English. That is certainly the best way to make progress.    


    It seems Napoleon's teacher gave similar advice to his student. As the article on BBC NEWS website says, when Napoleon was captured by the British and  forced to spend the last six years of his life on the island of Saint Helena, he decided it was time he learned English. He worked hard and had lessons every day because he wished to understand what the English people around him were saying. When he felt confident enough in his written English he started writing short letters to his teacher.

 Hopefully, your reasons for learning English are not so grim but it is still important to have the zeal and persistence to keep practicing daily. What you mustn't do is be embarrassed about making mistakes! If you are too shy and think your English is not good enough, take a look at one of Napoleon's letters to his teacher - his English has so much room for improvement, in fact only his teacher Emmanuel, the Comte de las Cases, can fully understand what he meant to say.

"Count Las Case. It is two o'clock after midnight, I have enow [enough] sleep, I go then finish the night into to cause with you, 
 He shall land above seven day, a ship from Europe that we shall give account from anything who this shall have been even to day of first January thousand eight hundred sixteen.
You shall have for this ocurens a letter from Lady Las Case that shall you learn what himself could carry well if she had conceive the your occurens. But I tire myself and you shall have of the ado at conceive my."

Despite the lack of clarity and numerous grammar mistakes, this letter was sold to the French Museum of Letters and Manuscripts for 325,000 EUR at an auction in France. So, you see, it really is OK to make mistakes, what is important is to learn from your mistakes and move on to making new and different ones :).

Good luck with all your efforts, practice as often as you can and find a way to use English and put what you have learned to the test. If you have any ideas how this blog can help you with that - write your suggestions in a comment or email me.