Since I have started teaching English I look for the perfect website for online exercises and activities. My favorite now is actually a German website for teaching English.
There you can find English Grammar, Vocabulary, Exercises and Exams.
Information for learners of English as a foreign language.
Also check the
Daily English Lesson - Texts, Listening Comprehension, Exercises
As Roberto posted before and as you all probably know a great way of learning or improving a language is travelling and talking to natives...But we don't always have the money to do that! So I suggest you a way of meeting natives without leaving your own city!
I have spent the last month travelling and staying at people's houses in Europe through a community called COUCH SURFING. Have you heard of it?
You don't necessarily need to host people in your house but you can MEET them and show them around the city.
Couch surfing is a community of travellers, non profit, with the goal of getting the people around the world close together.
I get this question all the time and I got it again yesterday...
How did you learn English? Did you go to school?
My answer is always the same and the important part for you guys is to know that there are infinite ways (especially today) to learn English beyond the classroom grounds...
I have always used series and music to help me learn. My favorite series has always been " Friends", because it is not only easy to understand but also because it is a sitcom about the everyday life. Since music is very personal I have focused on not only having fun through the music but also learning with it...
So here are some examples on how you can do that...
I chose the pilot episode of friends with the subtitles provided from youtube ( they don't always work but you can try!)...
And a song by " The Beatles". I'm not a big fan but I always use them in class because they can be used in many different levels! One of the videos has the lyrics of " When I'm 64" and the other an animation.
Hope you enjoy it! And remember: when you learn a new word incorporate it to your vocabulary so you can memorize it!
Still struggling with Phrasal Verbs? Some students ask me the difference between some verbs that are used with the preposition UP and the main verbs without it.. so here's a brief explanation:
A - You are probably familiar with verbs such as EAT UP and WRITE UP, which carry a meaning of completion. Here are some more examples:
Come on, children, finish up your breakfast. It's time to go.
Well, let's wrap up the discussion now and vote. [(informal) finish an activity]
UP can also carry the meaning of upward movement or relating to an upper position.
Could you lift the table up while I put the rug under it?
Tommy, pick all your toys up from the floor and put them in your toy box.
Another meaning of UP in phrasal verbs is maintain in an upright position or strenghten, prevent from falling down or failing;
Marian was lying propped up on a pillow. [supporting herself in an upright position]
The minister announced new measures to shore up the economy. [strenghten or improve an organisation or system that is not working effectively or that is likely to fail]
UP can also mean increase or improve.
This sauce is tasteless. I'll add some garlic to pep it up a bit. [(informal) make something more interesting, lively or energetic]
We jazzed up our all-white kitchen by adding red tiles and doorknobs here and there. [(informal) make something more attractive or interesting]
Today's lesson is quite interesting!! We've talked a lot about the differences between the SIMPLE PAST and PRESENT PERFECT, and here are some other curiosities:
A - Time expressions that refer to the present, such as this morning/week/month and today, can be used with either past simple or present perfect verbs. If we think of this morning (etc.) as a past, completed time period, then we use the SIMPLE PAST; if we think of this morning (etc.) as a time period which includes the present moment, than we use the present perfect. Compare:
I didn't shave this morning. (= the morning is over and I didn't shave) and
I haven't shaved this morning. (= it is still the morning and I might shave later)
B - In news reports, you will often read about or hear recent events introduced with the present perfect, and than the past simple or orther past tenses are used to give details:
'The film star Jim Cooper has died of cancer. He was 68 and lived in Texas...'
'The US space shuttle Atlantis has returned safely to earth. It landed in Florida thia morning...'
'A teacher from Oslo has become the first woman to cross the Antartic alone. It took her 42 days to make her crossing with her dog team...'
C - In a sentence which includes as time clause with since, we generally prefer a past simple verb in the time clause and a present perfect verb in the main clause. The time clause refers to a particular point in the past:
Since Mr Hassan became president, both taxes and unemployment have increased. (rather than ...has become...)
She hasn't been able to play tennis since she broke her arm. (rather than ...has broken...)
Notice, however, that we use the present perfect in the time clause if the two situations described in the main clause and time clause extend until the present:
Have you met any of your neighbours since you've lived here? (not... you lived...)
D- After the pattern It/This/That is/will bethe first time... we generally use the present perfect in the next clause:
That's the first time I've seen Jan look embarrassed. (reporting a past event)
It won't be the first time she has voted against the government in her long career. (talking about a future event)
Notice, however, that after It/This/That wasthe first time... we generally use the past perfect
It was the first time I'd talked to Ella outside the office.
E - With time clauses introduced by after, when, until, as soon as, once, by the time and the time expressions the minute/second/moment the past simple refers to past, completed events and the present refers to future events. Compare these examples:
After she left hospital (past), she had a long holiday, and
After Dominic has left school (future), he will be spending six months in India.
The minute I got the news about Sue (past) I telephoned my parents, and
I'll contact you the minute I've got my exam results. (future)
In the time clause in sentences like this it is possible to use the past perfect instead of the past simple (e.g. After she had left...) and the present simple instead of the present perfect (e.g. After Dominic leaves...) with the same meaning.
So guys, hope you've enjoyed!!
cheers,
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Hey everybody!!
sorry there weren't any posts recently, but I have been busy lately!
I was very happy today when I saw that more than 90 people have already visited our blog! I'd appreciate a lot if our visitors made comments in the posts so that I'd be able to check where they come from! LOL
Keep coming my friends and help me improve this blog!!
Thanks a lot
Sunday, July 22, 2012
HEE YA!!
It's Sunday.. and another day of thinking:
WHERE IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO LIVE OR VISIT IN ORDER TO IMPROVE MY ENGLISH??
So we present now an extremely beautiful destination: LOS ANGELES - CALIFORNIA
