Learn to speak English - INFLUENCE - under the influence - English lesson with Mr Duncan

Not all of the subjects I talk about are negative ones. After all there are lots of lovely things

in the world that can be discussed. For example...the way in which certain people and things can

influence you. The good influences are the ones that help you to move in a positive direction.

people can influence you a lot. Especially during your young years. I remember when I

was at school, there were two teachers who influenced me a great deal. Some of the things

they said still resonate with me today. My English teacher Mrs Ryder and my Art teacher

Mr Stevenson both gave me lots of encouragement and useful words of advice during my schooldays.

Of course it is possible to be influenced later in life as well. Maybe a chance meeting

or a certain event occurring can leave an impression on you, even as you get older.

My own life was affected by a mid-life event, after working abroad in China. The time I

spent there really did influence my life in many ways. By the things I experienced and

the people I met. My time spent in China still influences me to this very day. The word influence

can mean - persuade - sway - control - pressure - power. One thing can influence something

else. Habits and behaviour can be changed due to the influence of, or from something.

In nature, the influence of certain events can have an effect on other things. Heat,

cold, gravity and any combination of the aforementioned can have an effect of our surroundings. Such

influences can be either positive or negative. What things have influenced you in your life?

Would you say that the positive influences outnumber the negative ones? In recent times

we have seen how the influence of one or two people can change the way in which others

behave. As a side note, the word influence derives from astrology, when it was widely

believed that the position of the stars had an effect on the flow of human destiny. These

days we like to think that we all have the ability to influence each other. It's not

just the well-known and the famous who can make a difference. Sometimes a small act of

kindness or a moment of patient consideration can have a much bigger effect and leave a

larger impact on others than we realise.