What kind of holidays do you like?
Where did you go on your last holiday?
These are the questions speakers answer in this new video podcast from Speakout Elementary, Longman.
Watch the video and try to understand what the speakers say.
Now it's over to you. Answer the two questions about yourself, and try to use some of the vocabulary and the expressions you heard on the video.
You can read the transcript here.
martes, 7 de febrero de 2012
8 letters in search of a word
8 letters in search of a word is an interesting vocabulary game. The aim of the game is to gain points by creating words from the selection of eight letters given to you on the screen.
Longer words give more points. Add letters to a word by clicking on the letters or using the keyboard, the click the 'submit' button or press 'enter' when you've made a complete word to get the points.
Longer words give more points. Add letters to a word by clicking on the letters or using the keyboard, the click the 'submit' button or press 'enter' when you've made a complete word to get the points.
lunes, 6 de febrero de 2012
Some outstanding 2012 Super Bowl ads
Larry Ferlazzo posted a blog entry yesterday where he let us know about some interesting Super Bowl resources.
I looked through them and took my pick, going for the latest, NBC's collection of 2012 Super Bowl commercials.
I have just embedded two of the commercials they show, but if you click on this NBC link, you'll be able to watch NBC's full choice and read some background information about them.
I looked through them and took my pick, going for the latest, NBC's collection of 2012 Super Bowl commercials.
I have just embedded two of the commercials they show, but if you click on this NBC link, you'll be able to watch NBC's full choice and read some background information about them.
Writing workshop 18: A formal letter
There are different types of letters/emails we can be asked to write. These letters can be either informal (I) or formal (F):
Introducing yourself to a penfriend (I)
Asking for information from a friend (I)
Giving news to your family or friends (I)
Applying to go to university (F)
Asking for information from an institution (F)
Applying for a job (F)
It is important to emphasize that whatever kind of letter/email we are asked to write, it must have a clear structure and must answer all the points we have been asked to write about in the task.
Sample task
You see this ad in a magazine and are interested in applying for the job.
Are you a strong swimmer?
Do you know about first aid?
Do you enjoy working with people?
Then you might be right person for us!
We are looking for someone in August to assist our lifeguards, provide supervision during beach activities and observe swimmers. Lifeguard qualification and experience desirable but not essential as training will be given. If you are interested, write to the Lifeguard Manager saying why you think you are the right person for the job.
Write a letter of application in 160-180 words.
A good composition layout for the task above would be:
Paragraph 1: Introduction: Name, when and where you saw the ad and one of your reasons why you are interested in the job.
Paragraph 2: Personal information, which could include age, where you live, education, training/qualifications, present job and/or work experience.
Paragraph 3: Further reasons for applying and why you are a suitable candidate for the job.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion: When you are available for an interview and names and addresses of two people (referees) who can recommend you.
As with informal emails and letters, we must not neglect basic letter conventions, which would include:
• Greeting: Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Mr Williams
• Opening remark: I would like to apply for the job of …; I am writing to apply for the position of …
• Closing remark: I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible
• Farewell formula: Yours faithfully (if the greeting was Dear Sir or Madam, ie you didn’t know the person’s name), Yours sincerely (if the greeting was Dear Mr Williams, ie. Dear + person’s surname)
On top of that, the style should be formal and you must use:
• a polite, impersonal tone: I am writing to enquire whether (not *I want to ask if)
• polite formulas without contractions: I would be grateful if; I would appreciate it if you could
• passive voice: I can be contacted (not *You can contact me)
• formal linking words: consequently, therefore, for this reason
• remember: colloquial expressions, phrasal verbs, idioms and contracted forms are not used in formal style
Another sample task
Helpers needed in our summer camp for 10-14 years old. Duties include helping with games and other activities. Helpers must speak English and be able to work at any time, including some evenings, from 5th to 25th July. Apply in writing to Ben Carroll
Write your letter of application in 160-180 words.
For composition samples corrected and explained you can visit Flo-Joe.
With information from Successful Writing Intermediate, Express Publishing and First Certificate Expert, Longman
Introducing yourself to a penfriend (I)
Asking for information from a friend (I)
Giving news to your family or friends (I)
Applying to go to university (F)
Asking for information from an institution (F)
Applying for a job (F)
It is important to emphasize that whatever kind of letter/email we are asked to write, it must have a clear structure and must answer all the points we have been asked to write about in the task.
Sample task
You see this ad in a magazine and are interested in applying for the job.
Are you a strong swimmer?
Do you know about first aid?
Do you enjoy working with people?
Then you might be right person for us!
We are looking for someone in August to assist our lifeguards, provide supervision during beach activities and observe swimmers. Lifeguard qualification and experience desirable but not essential as training will be given. If you are interested, write to the Lifeguard Manager saying why you think you are the right person for the job.
Write a letter of application in 160-180 words.
A good composition layout for the task above would be:
Paragraph 1: Introduction: Name, when and where you saw the ad and one of your reasons why you are interested in the job.
Paragraph 2: Personal information, which could include age, where you live, education, training/qualifications, present job and/or work experience.
Paragraph 3: Further reasons for applying and why you are a suitable candidate for the job.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion: When you are available for an interview and names and addresses of two people (referees) who can recommend you.
As with informal emails and letters, we must not neglect basic letter conventions, which would include:
• Greeting: Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Mr Williams
• Opening remark: I would like to apply for the job of …; I am writing to apply for the position of …
• Closing remark: I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible
• Farewell formula: Yours faithfully (if the greeting was Dear Sir or Madam, ie you didn’t know the person’s name), Yours sincerely (if the greeting was Dear Mr Williams, ie. Dear + person’s surname)
On top of that, the style should be formal and you must use:
• a polite, impersonal tone: I am writing to enquire whether (not *I want to ask if)
• polite formulas without contractions: I would be grateful if; I would appreciate it if you could
• passive voice: I can be contacted (not *You can contact me)
• formal linking words: consequently, therefore, for this reason
• remember: colloquial expressions, phrasal verbs, idioms and contracted forms are not used in formal style
Another sample task
Helpers needed in our summer camp for 10-14 years old. Duties include helping with games and other activities. Helpers must speak English and be able to work at any time, including some evenings, from 5th to 25th July. Apply in writing to Ben Carroll
Write your letter of application in 160-180 words.
For composition samples corrected and explained you can visit Flo-Joe.
With information from Successful Writing Intermediate, Express Publishing and First Certificate Expert, Longman
domingo, 5 de febrero de 2012
The basics of Feng Shui
Host and Feng Shui expert Leigh Kubin answers basic questions regarding the study and the practical applications of Feng Shui in homes, offices, and recreational areas.
Self-study activity:
Watch the clip and answer the questions below.
1 What does Feng Shui literally mean?
2 Where's the programme host?
3 What colour is the journey area? What element does it have?
4 What's the journey area about?
5 What colour is the wisdom area? What element does it have?
6 What ornaments can you put in the wisdom are?
7 What does the family area represent?
8 What colour is the family area? What element does it have?
9 What colour is the wealth area? What element does it have?
10 What do the canisters represent?
11 What does the fame and reputation area represent?
12 What colour is the fame and reputation area? What element does it have?
13 What colour is the relationship area? What element does it have?
14 Why is the children and creativity area important?
15 What colour is the children and creativity area? What element does it have?
You can read the transcript here.
Key:
1 wind and water 2 a home accessories boutique 3 black / water 4 your life path 5 blue / earth 6 pictures of people you want to gain knowledge from or find earthy pictures 7 what you think or not as possible for you 8 green / wood 9 purple / wood 10 the accumulation of wealth 11 What you are doing with your life has value for others 12 red / fire 13 pink / earth 14 Because if we don't have time to play, we won't have energy for the journey 15 pastels /metal
Self-study activity:
Watch the clip and answer the questions below.
1 What does Feng Shui literally mean?
2 Where's the programme host?
3 What colour is the journey area? What element does it have?
4 What's the journey area about?
5 What colour is the wisdom area? What element does it have?
6 What ornaments can you put in the wisdom are?
7 What does the family area represent?
8 What colour is the family area? What element does it have?
9 What colour is the wealth area? What element does it have?
10 What do the canisters represent?
11 What does the fame and reputation area represent?
12 What colour is the fame and reputation area? What element does it have?
13 What colour is the relationship area? What element does it have?
14 Why is the children and creativity area important?
15 What colour is the children and creativity area? What element does it have?
You can read the transcript here.
Key:
1 wind and water 2 a home accessories boutique 3 black / water 4 your life path 5 blue / earth 6 pictures of people you want to gain knowledge from or find earthy pictures 7 what you think or not as possible for you 8 green / wood 9 purple / wood 10 the accumulation of wealth 11 What you are doing with your life has value for others 12 red / fire 13 pink / earth 14 Because if we don't have time to play, we won't have energy for the journey 15 pastels /metal
Who, who's, whose
The MacMillan Dictionary language tips are a really helpful learning tool for English language learners. Their weekly tips draw our attention to very specific areas of difficulty in both vocabulary and grammar.
In this tip, they want to show us the difference between who, who's (= who is or who has), whose (=possessive pronoun).
Elearn Language learning also offers some explanations and gives some more examples.
Languageguide.org mainly focuses on the difference between who and whose, but their great asset is that they offer recorded audio files of all the examples.
University of Bristol allows us to do an online exercise to discrimate between Who's or Whose.
In this tip, they want to show us the difference between who, who's (= who is or who has), whose (=possessive pronoun).
Elearn Language learning also offers some explanations and gives some more examples.
Languageguide.org mainly focuses on the difference between who and whose, but their great asset is that they offer recorded audio files of all the examples.
University of Bristol allows us to do an online exercise to discrimate between Who's or Whose.
sábado, 4 de febrero de 2012
Test results reveal what makes a twin white or black
Self-study activity:
This BBC video clip may be of primary interest to Biology students. I picked it up for other reasons: We have the opportunity to get acquainted with two very distinct English accents: a northern accent from Leeds, the girl, who you might find difficult to pick up, and a Scottish accent, the doctor, which should be a blessing for all language learners.
Watch the clip and say whether the statements below are true or false.
1 In the chart, the colour for European is blue and for African is green.
2 The girl's genes are exactly 50% European and 50% African.
3 The girl's mother was 20% European.
4 The reason why one of the twins is black and the other white is just chance.
5 If the girl has more children with a white father it's likely they will be black.
You can read the transcript here.
Key:
1F 2T 3F 4T 5T
This BBC video clip may be of primary interest to Biology students. I picked it up for other reasons: We have the opportunity to get acquainted with two very distinct English accents: a northern accent from Leeds, the girl, who you might find difficult to pick up, and a Scottish accent, the doctor, which should be a blessing for all language learners.
Watch the clip and say whether the statements below are true or false.
1 In the chart, the colour for European is blue and for African is green.
2 The girl's genes are exactly 50% European and 50% African.
3 The girl's mother was 20% European.
4 The reason why one of the twins is black and the other white is just chance.
5 If the girl has more children with a white father it's likely they will be black.
You can read the transcript here.
Key:
1F 2T 3F 4T 5T
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