English with Torrie

Learning English Audio files

2012-02-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

How about some vocabulary listening practice?
Here we go.

Click here to begin

English Club Listening

2012-02-19T05:53:00.000-08:00

For those needing more listening exercises I have a solution right here!
Go to the English Club and click on any of the links.

Ready?

GO

Go and Come

2012-02-16T10:55:00.000-08:00

Let's look again at the phrasal verbs with go and come.
They can be confusing but with practice you'll remember them.

Begin here

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

Watch this

Time

2012-02-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

German-English translation practice
Ready Set GO.

Environment

2012-02-06T03:08:00.000-08:00

A quiz for German speakers.
Translate the German word to the English.

Ready set GO

Thank you Hannah Savage

5 basic Patterns

2012-02-05T03:03:00.000-08:00

Subject + Verb
I swim. Joe swims. They swam.

Subject + Verb + Object
I drive a car. Joe plays the guitar. They ate dinner.

Subject + Verb + Complement
I am busy. Joe became a doctor. They look sick.

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
I gave her a gift. She teaches us English.

Subject + Verb + Object + Complement
I left the door open. We elected him president. They named her Jane.

Now put this to the test by connecting to this LINK

Learn the mystery of the word 'of '

2012-02-03T02:55:00.000-08:00

Learning objectives
The word "of"

What a complicated word to use. Go to the dict.cc website to see the German English translation. Maybe this will help some!
Begin here

high/higher/highest?

2012-01-31T11:08:00.000-08:00

Comparative and superlative practice time!
Start here

thank you Anthony Halderman

No comment needed

2012-01-29T05:28:00.000-08:00

Who is it?

2012-01-29T05:02:00.000-08:00

Can you guess who these people are?

Example: This is your father’s son. My brother!

1. This is the daughter of your sister or brother.
2. This is your husband or wife’s mother.
3. This is your mother’s brother.
4. This is your father’s father.
5. This is your daughter’s child.
6. This is your brother’s wife.
7. This is your mother’s sister’s daughter!
8. This is your uncle's wife.
9. This is the son of your sister.
10.This is the parents of your parents.

s
c
r
o
l
l

d
o
w
n

KEY:
1. neice
2. mother-in-law
3. uncle
4. grandfather
5. grandchild
6. sister-in-law
7. cousin
8. aunt
9. nephew
10. grandparents

A word from the teacher

2012-01-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear English Learner,

I would like to share some words with you.

There are only a few reasons why I have chosen to become a language teacher.

I can honestly say:

It isn't because of the high salary.

It isn't because of the job security.

It isn't because I can change the world and make a difference.

Lastly, it isn't because I can climb the 'corporate laddar' and 'find fulfillment' through a gentle balance of work and pleasure.

No.

What it is:

Defy gravity.

Motivation.

The question is, what motivates me?

To talk to you. To understand my fellow human being.

To communicate across all genre, colour, culture and situation.

Sooo, the next time you are doing your homework, think about this:

Your teacher loves teaching you.

She loves communicating with you and helping you to realise another way to communicate!!

In short-she loves her students.

Torrie

Verb Tense Practice AGAIN

2012-01-24T03:05:00.000-08:00

Go back to this site and practice.

Zeitformen - Grammatikübungen

Decide if you are having more problems with simple present, simple past, present continuous or a contrast of them.

Choose your exercise and GO

START HERE

3rd Gymnasium Exam Practice

2012-01-19T04:49:00.000-08:00

Put the words in the correct order and write sentences in the correct tense.
Write positive or negative sentences or questions.
Example:
the/across/he/walk/street past simple positive
He walked across the street.

1. love/eat/she/ice cream/every/night present simple positive

2. they/walk/cinema/be present continuous question

3. ride/bike/his/he/a /hole/through/big past simple positive

4. go/holiday/we/on/our/be/grandparents/with present continuous negative

5. hate/milk/hot/my/I/cereal/in present simple positive

6. drive/airport/they/to/the past question

7. she/letter/a/penfriend/to/write/her past positive

SCROLL down for the answers.

key:
1. She loves to eat ice cream every night.
2. Are they walking to the cinema?
3. He rode his bike through a big hole.
4. We aren't going on holiday with our grandparents.
5. I hate hot milk in my cereal.
6. Did they drive to the airport?
7. She wrote a letter to her penfriend.

Word of the Day

2012-01-16T10:05:00.000-08:00

jargon •\ˈjär-gən, -ˌgän\• noun

1. specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject

2. a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)

Covering a professional sports labor battle can be a thankless task. No one wants to hear about millionaire athletes and billionaire owners fighting over $4 billion dollars, especially in a depressed economy. The average fan wants to know only three things:
Is the settlement over?
Who won?
How does it affect my team?
The rest is just posturing and mind-numbing jargon: escrow tax, BRI, repeater tax, the cliff, nontaxpayer midlevel exception.

Translate German to English

2012-01-15T10:43:00.001-08:00

1.
Claire ist Fransoesin. Sie ist aus Paris.
2.
Koenntest du bitte Bananen kaufen?
3.
Der Zug ist schnell, aber das Flugzeug ist schneller.
4.
Mark ist sehr stark.
5.
Tom hat eine Zeitung, etwas Wein und einige Broetchen gekauft.
6.
Deine Freunde sind nett.
7.
„Welches Kleid gefaellt dir?“ „Dieses hier ist schoener.“
8.
Wir sind nicht verheiratet.
9.
Das Wetter ist heute nicht schoen, aber es ist nicht Kalt.
10.
Unser neues Haus ist viel groesser als unsere alte Wohnung.
11.
Sind die Kinder zu Hause? Nein sie sind am spielen.
12.
Moechten Sie ein Stueck Kuchen?
13.
Mir ist heiss.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ANSWERS.

KEY:
1.
Claire
is French. She is from Paris.
2.
Could
you please buy some bananas?
3.
A
train is fast but an airplane is faster.
4.
Mark
is very strong.
5.
Tom
bought a newspaper, some wine and some rolls.
6.
Your
friends are nice.
7.
Which
dress do you like? This one is nicer.
8.
We
aren’t married.
9.
Today
the weather isn’t nice but it isn’t cold.
10. Our new house is a lot bigger than our old flat.
11. Are the children at home? No, they are playing.
12. Would you like a piece of cake?
13. I’m hot.

Englische Grammatik - Regeln und Erläuterungen

2012-01-14T00:57:00.000-08:00

Auf diesen Seiten findest du Regeln und Erläuterungen zu vielen Bereichen der englischen Grammatik. Suche dir auf der linken Seite einfach einen Bereich aus, den du üben willst.

Especially for my German speakers!

Save this site and visit often.

Click and go

Time for more practice!

2012-01-13T00:47:00.000-08:00

We all know the saying:

"Practice makes perfect."

So let's get busy and practice our basic grammar some more!

Click here

PET Writing part 1

2012-01-12T00:02:00.000-08:00

I would like to tell you about the
Cambridge Preliminary English Test B-2 level.
Here you find some samples of the writing part.

CLICK AND GO

Irregular Verbs

2012-01-09T04:55:00.000-08:00

Practice here

PET Reading, part 1

2012-01-08T23:53:00.000-08:00

In the Cambridge PET (Preliminary English Test) you will read different postings.

Why not give it a try here?

CLICK AND GO

Practice makes perfect!

Present Simple Practice

2012-01-08T06:14:00.000-08:00

Time for some brush up on your Present Simple Skills people!!!

Click here to begin

Workers happy with their jobs

2012-01-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

A survey has found that 94 per cent of employees in Switzerland are satisfied with their job situation – and that 35 per cent are in fact very satisfied.
Only six per cent said that they were dissatisfied with their jobs. The survey results aired on Monday on “Eco”, a business programme on Swiss television.
It seems that women in particular are happy at work: 37 per cent said they were very satisfied in comparison with 33 per cent of the men. As for the workload, 64 per cent of those questioned said it was just right. A third said it was too much and three per cent said it was too little. The employee’s age
had an influence on this. Just 22 per cent of 15-29-year-olds felt burdened by
their workload, compared with 34 per cent of 30-49-year-olds and 42 per cent of
those over 50. Swiss salaries scored well: 85 per cent said they were
satisfied with their income – and 20 per cent said very satisfied. Just 15 per
cent indicated that they should be earning more. The managers of Switzerland also rated highly. While nine per cent of the workers said they were
dissatisfied with their boss, 47 per cent said they were satisfied and the
remaining 44 per cent said very much so.

swissinfo.ch and agencies

Word Use

2012-01-04T04:45:00.000-08:00

Hello again! Nice to see you hear.

It is easy to mix up words sometimes.

Why not try this exercise?

Click to begin

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Follower,

I sincerely hope that 2012 is the best year of your life.

All the Best, Torrie

Here is a New Year's story from Times Square in New York followed by some questions.

Click here to begin

curious vs interesting

2011-12-27T07:46:00.000-08:00

If someone is curious it means they are interested in learning about what is around them.

For example: "Lynne was curious to find out how many people used the website."

If something is curious, it means it's odd, strange or unusual.

For example: "The results were very curious because a lot of Americans were using the website."

If someone or something is interesting it means it gets your attention because it may be unusual, exciting, or has a lot of ideas

For example: "She found the results very interesting."

So, something curious can be interesting, but something interesting isn't necessarily curious.

Wishing you

2011-12-25T04:52:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Story

2011-12-25T03:53:00.000-08:00

THE GOLD WRAPPING PAPER

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family's only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper.

As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all of the expensive gold paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten money to buy what was in the shoebox.Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy!"

As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her.But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. "Don't you know, young lady," he said harshly, "when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package!"

The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: "Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full."The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Swiss Christmas markets

2011-12-21T07:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a nice video to watch.

Begin here

My Life without Money

2011-12-14T00:41:00.000-08:00

Use these words to fill in the gaps.

of children to few money Heidemarie ticket student computer has Today something turns and job the house-sat circle money she me Before of but life earn She for you as society you all can have last in So the give want anything all year they tube Heidemarie using three are people book that holiday one experiment earn might the to they and money Dortmund

I’m___________(1) Schwermer, a 63-year-old German woman, __________(2) lived without money for the __________(3) ten years and has written a __________(4) about her experiences called ‘My __________(5) without money’. At the age __________(6) 54 Heidemarie gave up her __________(7) as a psychotherapist, gave away __________(8) her money and her flat __________(9) threw away her credit cards. __________(10), apart from a few clothes (__________(11) sweaters, two skirts, two pairs __________(12) shoes, and a coat) and a __________(13) personal belongings, she doesn’t own __________(14). It began as a one-year __________(15). In her home city of __________(16) she set up a ‘swapping __________(17)’ where people swap services without __________(18) money, for example, a haircut __________(19) a mathematics class. To prove __________(20) this could work she decided __________(21) give up using money for a __________(22). But when the year ended __________(23) continued and has not used __________(24) since then. At first she __________(25) for friends who were on __________(26). She stayed in their house __________(27) return for watering the plants __________(28) looking after their animals. At __________(29) moment she is staying in a __________(30) residence where she can sleep, __________(31) a shower, or use a __________(32) in return for cooking for __________(33) young people who live there. __________(34) also ‘works’ as a psychotherapist. ‘__________(35) I treated very wealthy people __________(36) now I help anyone who __________(37) up. Sometimes they give me __________(38) in return, but not always.’ __________(39) says, ‘I can live thanks __________(40) my contacts. A lot of __________(41) who know me understand what __________(42) doing and want to help __________(43). When I need a bus __________(44), for example, or a new __________(45) of toothpaste I think, “Who __________(46) I ask? What can I __________(47) them in return?” If I __________(48) to go to the cinema I __________(49) offer to look after somebody’s __________(50) for the afternoon. ‘It is __________(51) of the mistakes of our __________(52) that most people do something __________(53) don’t like just to earn __________(54) and spend it on things __________(55) don’t need. Many people judge __________(56) according to how much you __________(57). In my opinion, all jobs __________(58) equally important. You may not __________(59) a lot of money but __________(60) may be worth a lot __________(61) a person. That’s my message’. __________(62) what did she do with __________(63) the money she earned from __________(64) sales of ‘My life without __________(65)’? ‘I gave it all away…’

A-1 A-2 Verb Tenses

2011-12-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

Review of Verb Tenses

TIP from Torrie:

After reviewing each section why not go to the grammar links listed in the right side of this blog and practice?

Present Simple: Occurs in the Present
Uses: Facts, routines, habits
To give instruction or directions

Signal Words:
every day/week/month; twice a day/week/month, often, usually, sometimes, never

I watch the news every day.
Form: Root verb, e.g. study
With 3rd.person singular, the endings are –s; or –es
I read;
He /She reads
I study; He /She studies
Questions & Negatives: ‘do’; ‘don’t’; ‘does’ & ‘doesn’t’

Present Continuous (Progressive): Is Occurring in the Present
Uses: To describe an action that is going on at the moment
To describe a temporary event of situation
With always, forever, constantly to describe and emphasize a continuing
series of repeated actions
Nature: Temporary, in progress
Signal words: at the moment, right now, still, just, while
I am watching a good film at the moment.
Form: Root verb + (–ing) end study studying
[am / is/ are] + [verb + -ing]

Present Perfect Simple: Has occurred relative to the Present
Creates a bridge between the past and now at some unspecified time
Uses: A present situation that started in the past
A past event that caused a present situation
A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past & now
As a conversation opener, in order to establish the topic of conversation or
to introduce a story; for example:
Have you ever been to Scotland?
Have I ever told you about the time I went.....
Used to locate an action in time up to now
Signal words: up to now; until now; so far; since; often, yet, already, before, ever, just
Form: [has/have] + [past participle verb form]
She has worked at HTW since 1998.
Time expressions:
Present perfect is never used with definite time expressions; i.e. time expressions which describe
fixed points in the past (finished time).
In 1999; when I was five; yesterday; before I left school; last week; at 7am; two minutes ago; last
term; at Christmas – Use past simple
Present perfect can be used with some indefinite time expressions which describe time up-to-now:
this year; since I was six; this week; recently; ever; yet; for the last few days; within the last week.

Past Simple: Occurred in the Past
Uses: Is used to talk about a completed action at a time before now, duration is
not important, the time of the action can be in the recent or distant past.
Used when it was some event or incident in the past and you have moved
on and are no longer interested.
You always use the simple past when you say when (a definite point in
time) something happened, so it is associated with certain past time
expressions:
Frequency: often, sometimes, always,
A definite point in time: last week, yesterday, six weeks ago
An indefinite point of time: ages ago, along time ago
(It happened a long time ago; that was ages ago!)
Chronological order: The door opened slowly and a man came in...
Form: [VERB + ed] Regular or Irregular past form of the verb
Three years ago, I studied German in Berlin.
When the phone rang, I washed my hair.
Details: When we want to give or receive (ask for) details involving the past,
then we use the past simple. (WHEN; WHERE; WHO; WHY)

I will call you back as soon as possible
To express an instant decision
What would you like to drink? - I‘ll have a large orange juice
To indicate or announce a definite future decision
To express a prediction
When making a general prediction about the future
Form: [WILL] + [VERB] I will help him later; I will never help him
When using a verb tense with more than one part (will help), adverbs (never);
adverbs come between the 1st and 2nd. part.
Time Reference: No future form in time clauses
Like all future forms, the future simple cannot be used in clauses beginning with
‘when’, ‘while’, ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘by the time’, ‘as soon as’, ‘if’ and ‘unless’
When you arrive tonight, we will watch a film. – CORRECT
When you will arrive tonight, we will study English. – WRONG
A specific time can be used to show the time that an action will begin.

Tongue Twisters

2011-12-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

See if you can say these three times quickly!
• Flash message. Flash message.
• Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
• Mix a box of mixed biscuits with a boxed biscuit mixer.
• A proper copper coffee pot.
• I saw Esau sitting on a seesaw. Esau, he saw me.
• Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat.
• Lovely lemon liniment.
• Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles stick.
• Good blood, bad blood.
• Three free throws.The instinct of an extinct insect stinks.
• Comical economists. Comical economists.
• Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?

•Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

•One-One was a racehorse.
Two-Two was one, too.
When One-One won one race,
Two-Two won one, too.

Swiss in spending mood this Christmas

2011-12-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

Despite gloomy economic forecasts, the Swiss are planning to spend a little bit more this Christmas than they did last year.

The consulting firm Deloitte found in a survey that on average each Swiss expected to shell out SFr612 ($661) for gifts.

While that is down SFr6 on the previous year, the total each household plans to spend on Christmas (shopping, special food, social events) has gone up by SFr3 to SFr1,038.

The high cost of goods in Switzerland is reflected in the fact that the amount is more the SFr300 higher than the European average. Deloitte said that Europeans will spend the same on activities and food but a few euros less on gifts this year.

Favourite Swiss presents are books and cash, the agency said. Due to the strong franc, 56 per cent of those surveyed said they would do their Christmas shopping in eurozone countries, compared to 48 per cent in 2010.

Gift-buying online has also become more popular. Nearly half said they are buying their presents online, which is 36 more than last year.

swissinfo.ch

Samichlaus explained in English

2011-12-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

Every year on December 6, kids in Switzerland better not be procrastinating because this is the traditional Santa Day. On this day, “Samichlaus” (as he is called in Swiss German) and his companion “Schmutzli” emerge from their cottage in the woods to visit children at their homes. They do not fly on a reindeer-pulled sleigh, either, but rather shuffle through the snow with a donkey.
Read on and enjoy the video HERE

Comparatives and Superlatives

2011-12-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

tall -taller -tallest
beautiful -more beautiful -most beautiful

Comparing in English is not that difficult.
I suggest you practice a bit here!
click on this link

2011-12-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

a / an / the / some / any / many / much /

Confusing sometimes!

Here is some practice on usage of these words.

Begin here

MY PRONOUNS

2011-12-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Let's do a little possessive pronoun practice.
Three minutes out of the day won't hurt a bit!
And here we go

Conversation Time

2011-11-26T01:01:00.000-08:00

Complete the conversations.

1. Will you see Amy on Saturday?

A If I’ve got time.
B When she’s early.
C Because she’s my friend.

2. There’s a two hour delay.

A 2 o’clock.
B We’ll be late.
C I hope so.

3. Have you got any stamps?

A Yes, would you like one?
B Yes, there are.
C Yes, very much.

4. Hello, 348820

A Hello that’s John.
B Hello, I’m John.
C Hello it’s John here.

5 Could I have a glass of water?

A I haven’t seen it.
B Here you are.
C Yes, please.

Scroll down to check your answers

1 A
2 B
3 A
4 C
5 B

Thanksgiving & Gluttony

2011-11-25T22:26:00.000-08:00

This week marks the beginning of the gluttony season, the time when even the most health-conscious diner succumbs to the temptations of the holiday buffet.

But is pigging out during the holidays a harmless indulgence or a real health worry? Indigestion, flatulence and the need to unbutton tight pants are the most common symptoms triggered by the Thanksgiving Day binge. But vast helpings of turkey, stuffing and candied sweet potatoes can take a more serious toll. Big meals can raise the risk for heart attack, gallbladder pain and dangerous drowsiness on the drive home.

Every bite of food, whether it's part of a huge Thanksgiving meal or a weekday lunch, travels on its own fantastic journey through the body, touching off a simultaneous release of hormones, chemicals and digestive fluids. The average meal takes 1 to 3 hours to leave the stomach. But a large meal can take 8 to 12 hours, depending on the quantity and fat content.

The average American consumes about 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat throughout Thanksgiving Day, according to the Calorie Control Council, which represents makers of low-calorie foods. "It's like a tsunami of fat coming into the body," said Dr. Pamela Peeke, assistant clinical professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Average stomach capacity is about 8 cups, although it can range from 4 to 12, said Dr. Edward Saltzman, an assistant professor of medicine at Tufts University. A stretched stomach prompts the release of chemicals that tell the brain it's full. But some holiday diners, faced with a sumptuous buffet of mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, keep eating.

Experts say the ability to ignore satiety signals is an evolutionary adaptation that helped build fat stores during times of plenty. Even so, the body eventually puts a stop to the binge. After about 1,500 calories in one sitting, the gut releases a hormone that causes nausea, says Susan B. Roberts, director of the energy metabolism laboratory at Tufts.

Although your stomach may feel as if it will burst, gastric rupture is extremely rare, notes Dr. William Goldberg, a New York emergency room physician whose book "Why Do Men Have Nipples?" explores the issue. The problem is usually limited to people with major eating disorders; in a study of people who had died with Prader-Willi syndrome, which causes excessive overeating, about 3 percent of the deaths were due to stomach rupture, said Dr. David Stevenson, an assistant professor at the University of Utah.

But while your stomach won't burst after a big Thanksgiving meal, overeating will make your body work harder. The extra digestive workload demanded by a food binge requires the heart to pump more blood to the stomach and intestines. Heavy consumption of fatty foods can also lead to changes that cause blood to clot more easily, said Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

As a result, heart attack risk appears to surge. Dr. Lopez-Jimenez led one study of 2,000 people that showed a fourfold increase in heart attack risk in the two hours after eating a big meal. Israeli researchers reported a sevenfold risk. "Someone who eats three times the normal calories of a regular meal will have an extra workload for the stomach and intestines and therefore the heart," Dr. Lopez-Jimenez said.

Dr. Goldberg says the digestive workout may also explain the "food coma" many people experience after a big meal. Although popular wisdom holds that Thanksgiving drowsiness is caused by tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, Dr. Goldberg notes that the amount isn't significant enough to affect most people.

For most people, food fatigue just brings on the need for a nap, but for travelers it is also a safety risk. "A lot of families as soon as they are done eating say, 'Let's get back on the road,'" said Dr. Carol Ash, the medical director of Sleep for Life, a sleep disorders program in Hillsborough, N.J. Dr. Ash notes that food fatigue, along with holiday alcohol consumption, the monotony of driving and a natural circadian dip late in the day all make for a lethal combination behind the wheel.

As the stomach releases food into the intestines, the gallbladder begins to squeeze out bile to help with fat digestion. Like the rest of the body, it has to work harder after a big meal — a frequent cause of gallstone attacks, which occur when clusters of solid material get stuck in the narrow duct that connects the organ to the intestine. These attacks are seldom fatal, but the pain mimics a heart attack and can be excruciating. Many people don't know they have gallstones until an attack occurs.

Large meals increase the risk for flatulence, because bits of undigested food slip into the colon and begin to ferment. And people with existing health problems that require special diets have to be careful about their intake of salt, fat and calories at Thanksgiving.

Simple strategies can help minimize the gluttony. Keep the serving dishes in the kitchen, so you won't take extra helpings mindlessly. Use smaller serving spoons and plates. In one study, Brian Wansink, a researcher at Cornell University, found that the bigger the bowl and serving spoon, the more ice cream people tended to eat.

Stick to foods that require utensils — we eat finger foods faster than those that require a fork.

Finally, contribute to the dinnertime conversation. The more you talk, the less you'll eat.

Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company

Definition of "tweet"

2011-11-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

1.
the short high sound made by a small bird

2.
(also twitter) a message sent using the Twitter social networking service. He started posting tweets via his cell phone to keep friends and family updated on his progress.

Reading Practice A-2

2011-11-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

As in the Key English Test.
Questions 1-6

Which notice (A-H) says this (1-6)? Click on the notice to select it.

1. People who saw a car drive into another car should call this number.

Begin Here

PET B-1 Listening anyone?

2011-11-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

The B-1 level English is really important. This is the breakthrough for you. Practice makes perfect.
Here is a listening exam for you to practice.
Enjoy.
And LISTEN CAREFULLY!

Click on the speaker to listen to the recordings. Then look at the pictures carefully. Decide which picture agrees with each recording and press the button under it. If you want to make a change, just press the button under your new choice.

Click here to begin

Snapshot Vocabulary

2011-11-20T09:18:00.001-08:00

Unit 7
Listen and practice!

Begin here

Video time

2011-11-19T05:06:00.000-08:00

You say 'oops' to indicate that there has been a slight accident or mistake, or to apologize to someone for it. • Oops!... I did it again.

This word made American headlines last week. Watch this presidential candidate, Mr. Rick Perry, on video.
Click here to watch

Gapped Sentences

2011-11-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

Read the sentences about cleaning the house.

Choose the best word for each space.

CLICK HERE to begin

Relative Clauses

2011-11-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

How to Form Relative Clauses

A girl is talking to Tom.
Do you know the girl?
Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?

Put both pieces of information into one sentence.
Start with the most important thing
– you want to know who the girl is.
Look at this explanation.

Auf Deutsch

In English

PET B-1 Reading anyone?

2011-11-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

Dear English Learner,
To get the certificate for PET- B-1 - we have to study.
Time to read people!
In PET Cambridge PET(Cambridge Preliminary English Test) part 2 you have to read notices.

Let's practice here

...special thanks to the people who put these exams online for us.

This Feels So Good

2011-11-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

Do you need something to make you feel good?

Watch this video

FCE Reading Part 1

2011-11-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

PART 1: British Management: Multiple Choice

Choose the answers you think fit best according to the text.

BRITISH MANAGEMENT

According to an article in Management Today, the British manager still stops work for tea. The French managing director of Novotel, the hotel group, tells what happened at his first management meeting when he took over its English operation in 1991:

"The meeting was in the afternoon, and it got to about 3.30 and everyone started looking at their watches. I didn't know what was going on. I turned to my secretary, who was English, and she said that they probably wanted to break for tea. I couldn't understand it. In France we just carry on until we have finished. Now we always break for tea."

I am not sure how many English managers now break for tea. Not that many, I imagine. Twenty years ago it was commonplace. I will never forget a Canadian sales director, pink with fury, telling me at that time how he had been offered tea and biscuits at three in the afternoon in Northampton: "I come three thousand miles, and take three taxis and a damn steam engine into the sticks, and I wanna do business, and this guy gives me a `nice cup of China tea and a biccy'. What IS he?" Mind you, this was the same man who in Rome told his Italian agent that the Colosseum would make a nice parking lot.

It is not so much the cup of tea as the pint of bitter that managers from outside Britain find a bar to efficiency. In the article, a German manager tells how when he first took over a job in Britain, he discovered that at lunchtime and especially on Fridays, the majority of his management team left for the pub. He says: "I stopped that right away. Now they are not allowed off the premises. It didn't make me very popular at the time but it is not good for efficiency. There is no way we would do that in Germany. No way."

According to European managers the British are still too concerned with class and status. A German says: "People say that the class system is a hindrance to progress and then two weeks later you overhear them discussing a colleague and saying, `Well, he is not very well-spoken, is he?'" And another says: "The class gaps translate into big gulfs in the pay league, too. In Germany, I might earn three times more than my secretary. Here it is five times."

Some criticisms are rather like those levelled at Japanese management. For example, talking about status, a Dutch manager says: "A director is God here. They respect him and think that he is right even when he is wrong. It's quite difficult to have an open conversation. People will not say `I disagree'."

Too great an interest in money is also criticised. A Dutch manager says: "My first impression on coming to Britain was that profit seemed to be the most important thing." And a Frenchman points out the difference between the UK and France: "In France there is no pressure on the bottom line."

The French manager also points out a difference in educational standards: "In France all the secretaries, or personal assistants as we call them, would have degrees. You wouldn't consider recruiting one without a degree. So, that means you can delegate much more to the secretaries in France. In the UK you cannot do that so much."

1. In the middle of the afternoon

A. everyone checked their watches.

B. hinted that it was teatime.

C. took a break.

D. noticed it was 3.30.

2. In the past

A. managers usually had a teabreak.

B. offered visitors China tea.

C. wasted a lot of time drinking tea.

D. drank a lot of tea.

3. The Canadian

A. was impressed by the Englishman's good manners.

B. had travelled a long way.

C. liked to do business.

D. considered his time was being wasted.

4. Why did the Canadian say the Colosseum would make a nice parking lot?

A. He had nowhere to park.

B. He was joking.

C. He was worried about Rome's traffic problems.

D. He was envious of Italy's glorious past.

5. The German didn't like his managers going to the pub because

A. he was against drink.

B. they got drunk.

C. it made them inefficient.

D. he believed playing sports would be better for them.

6. To stop them going to the pub, the managers

A. were ordered to stay in the office.

B. were given free lunches in the office.

C. played team games in the lunch-hour.

D. had meetings at lunchtime.

7. In Britain, managers are paid much more than their secretaries because of

A. sexism.

B. education.

C. class.

D. elocution.

8. English and Japanese managers are similar in that they

A. are tactful.

B. like tea.

C. avoid disagreement.

D. have a superiority complex.

9. In comparison with the British secretary, a French secretary

A. is better paid.

B. has more status.

C. is better spoken.

D. can take more responsibility.

Check your answers.

1.. A

2. A

3. D

4. B

5. C

6. A

7. C

8. C

9. D

CAE Listening Part 1 Practice time

2011-11-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

In this part, you will hear short extracts from exchanges between interacting speakers with two multiple-choice questions on each extract.

You’ll hear two different extracts. For questions 1-4, choose the answer which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract. You can listen to the audio twice.

Begin here

from Exam English

FCE Use of English Part 1

2011-11-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

EXERCISE 1.
Look at these five sentences. Which of the four words is the best one to complete each sentence?

1. The traffic was so _____ that nothing was moving.

a. full b. heavy c. big d. great

2. She always ate breakfast at home before _____________ for work.

a. moving out b. getting out c. setting out d. putting out

3. They agreed to lend him some money _____ he paid it back quickly.

a. even though b. as far as c. so that d. provided that

4. The phones all looked so interesting that he couldn’t ______ his mind which one to buy.

a. decide b. make up c. organise d. fix

5. She hadn’t slept for 3 days and her skin looked really _____ .

a. white b. pale c. light d. faint

Key:
1.b
2.c
3.d
4.b
5.5

The History Of Halloween

2011-10-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of the world's oldest holidays, dating back to pagan times. But it is celebrated today by more people in more countries than ever before. There's a simple reason: it is fun and it is good, clean, harmless fun for young and old alike! Also see Halloween around the world and see this page of current Halloween facts and statistics.

Since much of the history of Halloween wasn't written down for centuries; some of it is still sketchy and subject to debate. But the most plausible theory is that Halloween originated in the British Isles out of the Pagan Celtic celebration of Samhain. It goes back as far as 5 B.C. It was believed that spirits rose from the dead and mingled with the living on this day. The Celts left food at their doors to encourage good spirits and wore masks to scare off the bad ones. Some historians believe that the Romans who invaded England added a few of their own traditions to the celebration of Samhain; such as celebrating the end of the harvest and honoring the dead; others say that since the Romans never conquered the Celts (Ireland and Scotland) there was no mingling of cultures, and that the Celts celebrated the end of the harvest and honored their dead in this way, anyway!

Many centuries later, the Roman Catholic church, in an attempt to do away with pagan holidays, such as Halloween (and Christmas, which had been the Roman pagan holiday of Saturnalia) established November 1st as All Saint's Day (in French, la Toussaint), in celebration of all the saints who do not have their own holy day. This attempt to detract attention from the pagan celebration of Samhain didn't work. The celebrations on the eve of All Saint's Day continued to grow and change! During the massive Irish immigration into America in the 1840s, Halloween found its way to the United States, where it continued to flourish!

It is also believed that the Christian practice of celebrating the evening before a holiday, such as Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, etc. came from the Jewish traditions. Jewish days and holidays begin with the evening before. Always have, as Judaism follows a lunar calendar in which the sunsets begin the new day. Many Christian groups now observe holy days from sundown on one day until sundown on the following day.

The modern name, Halloween comes from "All Hallows' Evening," or in their slang "All Hallow's Even", the eve of All Hallows' Day. "Hallow" is an Old English word for "holy person," and All Hallows' Day is just another name for All Saints' Day, eventually, it became abbreviated to "Hallowe'en" and then "Halloween."

Jack O'Lantern

2011-10-29T04:48:00.000-07:00

Legend has it that an Irish blacksmith called Jack shared drinks with the Devil on a Halloween night. Jack was an evil and stingy man, but he was also very clever, and he knew that the Devil had come to claim his soul. So, he quickly devised a plan. When it came to paying the bartender, Jack told the Devil, “You can take any form you wish; just change yourself into a silver coin, let me use you to pay for the drinks, and then you can change yourself back and take my soul.”

The Devil agreed and changed himself into a silver coin. Jack, however, quickly put the coin in his pocket where he also kept a little silver Cross. The Devil wasn’t able to change back to his original form, so Jack offered him a deal, “If you leave me alone for 10 years, I’ll set you free.” The Devil had no choice but to agree.

Ten years later, the Devil came back to claim Jack’s soul. “Okay, you can have my soul now,” Jack said, “Could you just climb that apple tree first and give me an apple?” The Devil thought he had nothing to lose and climbed the apple tree, but Jack quickly pulled out his knife and carved a Cross in the trunk of the tree. Thus the Devil wasn’t able to come back down again, and Jack offered him another deal, “If you promise never to come back to claim my soul, I’ll set you free.” Again, the Devil had no choice but to agree, and he never came back to claim Jack’s soul.

Many years later, Jack finally died. When he went to Heaven, he was denied entrance, because he had been so evil and stingy all his life. Then Jack went to Hell, but, as he had tricked the Devil, he wasn’t allowed to stay there either. Instead, the Devil sent Jack back to earth and gave him a burning coal as a light to guide him. Jack placed the piece of coal inside a turnip, and went back to earth, where, ever since, he has been wandering alone in the darkness.

Jack and his lantern became the symbol of a lost or damned soul. To scare these souls away on Halloween, people in Ireland carved or painted faces on turnips and placed them in windows or doorways. In America, Irish immigrants discovered that turnips were hard to get. So they started to make their lanterns out of pumpkins, a fruit native to America.

Questions on the text:
Go here!

A Halloween Mystery

2011-10-26T04:39:00.000-07:00

In a horrible castle (not too far away from your home) there lived a horrible Duke with his horrible wife and their horrible servants. One morning the Duke was dead–murdered by one of the other horrible people living in the castle.

When the residents of the castle were interviewed by the police, every person gave two correct answers and told one lie.

This is what they said:

Follow this link to continue the mystery

Gulliver's Travels

2011-10-20T04:01:00.000-07:00

Paramount Pictures presents this everlasting story from 1938.

Watch this charming tale of Gulliver in the land of Lilliput. Timeless and wonderfully done!

To view the movie follow this link.

Key Word Transformations

2011-10-20T03:40:00.000-07:00

Cambridge English: CAE Use of English 5

We dread this task.

But the more we practice the better we get!

Here are some examples:

The results show attendance has risen dramatically during the last year.
IN
The results show a dramatic rise in attendance during the last year.

You probably won't find a better deal for a holiday.
CHANCES
The chances are you probably won't find a better deal for a holiday.

Ready to give it a go?
PRACTICE HERE

The Mini

2011-10-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

Watch a report on the mini from International Express Upper Intermediate.
Begin here

Global Warming

2011-10-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Finally - scientific proof!

Read about global warming on Simple English Wikipedia

It's not SNOW!!!

2011-10-16T23:59:00.000-07:00

The Oregon coast is where I come from. Florence Oregon to be specific.

Check this out.

Simple English Wikipedia

2011-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt the front page of the Simple English Wikipedia. Wikipedias are places where people work together to write encyclopedias in different languages. We use Simple English words and grammar here. The Simple English Wikipedia is for everyone! That includes children and adults who are learning English.
Follow this link

Rest in Peace Steve Jobs

2011-10-12T02:03:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs, 1955–2011: Mourning Technology's Great Reinventor

Read more here

Trouble with questions

2011-10-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

- so fragen Sie richtig

Even those who have a good command of English have trouble with questions – and some of them don’t even know it. The little things can trip you up. Check the following rules to correct any of the errors you might unknowingly be making.

Begin here

Thanks to business English trainer

LINKING WORDS PRACTICE

2011-10-10T06:01:00.000-07:00

HERE IS THE CHALLENGE:

Write the sentence again, using the word in brackets. The meaning must stay exactly the same.

Bring it to me for checking-or email it if you prefer! Good Luck.

1. She is a very good English speaker.
You would think it was her native language.
(so)

2. There were so many people in the room that we couldn't move.
(such)

3. We missed the film because there was such a lot of traffic.
(so)

4. I can't wear this coat in winter, It's not warm enough.
(too)

5. When he speaks English, I can't understand what he says.
(enough)

6. We lost the match although we were the better team.
(despite)

7. In spite of not having eaten for 24 hours, I didn't feel hungry.
(even though)

8. Despite her injured foot, she managed to walk to the village.
(although)

9. The football match is still going on.
(yet)

10. Has Jane got divorced yet?
(still)

Fairy Tale Time

2011-10-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

The Princess and the Pea
There was once a prince, and he wanted a princess, but then she must be a real Princess. He travelled right around the world to find one, but there was always something wrong. There were plenty of princesses, but whether they were real princesses he had great difficulty in discovering; there was always something which was not quite right about them. So at last he had come home again, and he was very sad because he wanted a real princess so badly.

One evening there was a terrible storm; it thundered and lightninged and the rain poured down in torrents; indeed it was a fearful night.

In the middle of the storm somebody knocked at the town gate, and the old King himself sent to open it.

It was a princess who stood outside, but she was in a terrible state from the rain and the storm. The water streamed out of her hair and her clothes; it ran in at the top of her shoes and out at the heel, but she said that she was a real princess.

‘Well we shall soon see if that is true,’ thought the old Queen, but she said nothing. She went into the bedroom, took all the bed clothes off and laid a pea on the bedstead: then she took twenty mattresses and piled them on top of the pea, and then twenty feather beds on top of the mattresses. This was where the princess was to sleep that night. In the morning they asked her how she slept.

‘Oh terribly bad!’ said the princess. ‘I have hardly closed my eyes the whole night! Heaven knows what was in the bed. I seemed to be lying upon some hard thing, and my whole body is black and blue this morning. It is terrible!’

They saw at once that she must be a real princess when she had felt the pea through twenty mattresses and twenty feather beds. Nobody but a real princess could have such a delicate skin.

So the prince took her to be his wife, for now he was sure that he had found a real princess, and the pea was put into the Museum, where it may still be seen if no one has stolen it.

Now this is a true story.

Fairy tales are classic fictional stories with a moral or lesson and usually have a happy -- or fairy tale -- ending. They usually take place in a far away land and include one or more make-believe characters such as:
• Princesses
• Princes
• Fairies
• Goblins
• Talking animals
• Mythical animals
• Giants
• Trolls
• Elves
• Humans with special or magical powers
The stories are usually far-fetched and are very attractive since they are easy to understand and can identify with the characters. Shorter tales usually have fewer characters and the morals are usually simple:
• Good triumphs over evil
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
• Don't be greedy
• Don't take things at face value
• Be careful what you wish

Much and Many - jedes Mal richtig!

2011-10-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

When to use much and when to use many can be confusing.
Some help for German speaking learners.

Begin here

Special thanks to business English trainer

Prefix/Suffix Multiple Choice

2011-10-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

Choose the best available answer for each of the following:

1) This newspaper is a BIWEEKLY.
a) the newspaper is published once a week
b) the newspaper is published three times a week
c) the newspaper is published twice a week

2) This medicine is a nasal DECONGESTANT.
a) the medicine helps to reduce nasal congestion
b) the medicine causes nasal congestion
c) the medicine makes your nose bigger

3) That shopping bag is REUSABLE.
a) throw the shopping bag away, we won’t need it again
b) don’t throw away the shopping bag because we can use it again.
c) if you throw the shopping bag we cannot use it again

4) I’m sorry I MISREAD the notice and therefore MISUNDERSTOOD the message.
a) Did not read the notice correctly and therefore did not understand correctly.
b) Read the notice and understood the message correctly
c) Did not read the notice and therefore did not understand the message.

5) We usually do not publish articles we don’t PREVIEW.
a) we usually read articles before publication
b) we do not read articles after publication
c) we read articles the day we publish them

6) REFORESTATION will help to RESTORE our environment.
a) planting trees again will REPLENISH our environment.
b) cutting down trees will further help to worsen the environment.
c) forests should be cut to improve the worsening environmental pollution

7) DEFORESTATION will cause environmental DEPLETION.
a) Means planting trees will help our environment from DEPLETION
b) Means cutting down trees will cause further environmental DEPLETION
c) Means too many forests will cause further environmental DEPLETION

8) Why is it called “OCTOBER” when it is not the eighth month of the year?
a) Because this is an exception with the OCTO prefix.
b) There is no reason why.
c) Because October used to be the eighth month of the Roman Calendar.

Now scroll down to check your answers.

KEY
1. = c
2. = a
3. = b
4. = a
5. = a
6. = a
7. = b
8. = c

Does Your Homework Help You Learn?

2011-10-02T00:38:00.001-07:00

Feedback please.

Leave a comment on if you think homework:

Helps you learn more?

Not enough?

Too much?

Quality of assignments?

Anonymous comments appreciated!

Have something done

2011-10-01T04:18:00.000-07:00

If you 'have something done', you get somebody else to do something for you.

•I'm going to have my hair cut.
•She's having her house redecorated.
•I'm having a copy of the report sent to you

In informal English, we can replace 'have' by 'get'.

•We're getting a new telephone system installed.
•They will be getting the system repaired as quickly as they can.
•I got the bill sent direct to the company.

We can also use 'have/got something done' in situations where something bad has happened to people or their possessions. This is not something they wanted to happen.

•John had all his money stolen from his hotel bedroom.
•We had our car damaged by a falling tree.
•I got my nose broken playing rugby.

Exercises here

What are Prepositional Phrases?

2011-09-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Prepositional phrases are made up of a preposition and what we call the object of the preposition.

The object of the preposition can be a noun, pronoun, gerund, or even a clause.

The objects of the preposition can also have modifiers to help describe it and give additional information.

Example: The ball is behind the white car.

more here

from Advanced English Grammar

You want to learn this, don't you?

2011-09-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Tag question time:

This is fun, isn't it?

You are good at this, aren't you?

Everyone should do this, shouldn't they?

Go for it here

On this day in history...

2011-09-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

Check out this interesting web site
Compliments of the Learning Network

Irregular Verbs List

2011-09-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

This list includes the German translation.
Go here

Asylum in the Swiss Mountains

2011-09-18T02:19:00.000-07:00

Switzerland decided to open up a military bunker in the remote Jaunpass, in the Bernese Alps, to take pressure off the four reception centres on the country’s borders. Residents are free to come and go as they please. But many locals seem unhappy with the decision.

Click to watch this video.

Oops!

2011-09-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

The link to Swiss News had a glitch.
Try again? I fixed it. It's worth it.

Swiss News

ps
I find this such a great site it is added as a permanent link under the heading General English

Drunken Moose

2011-09-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

A Boozing moose is safely rescued after becoming drunkenly stranded up an apple tree while eating fermented apples.

Read more

Swiss News and Info

2011-09-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

Click here to get Switzerland's news -in English- updated daily.

You can change the language choice and re-read the articles to make sure you have understood, or open two windows at the same time, one in English and the other in your mother language.

swissinfo.ch is a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation

A saying for the day...

2011-09-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

When the student
is ready,
the teacher will appear.

~ Siddhārtha Gautama

Fantastic National Geographic Photography

2011-09-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

The world is such an amazing place. And there are alot of people out the capturing some of this natural phenomana. I love scrolling through National Geographic's photos. I think you might too.

Click here

Quick Grammar Reference

2011-09-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this page which is a great reference to go over the basic questions of grammar once again. If you take the time you will find this is a great site to improve your grammar!

Begin here

Word of the Day | stupefy

2011-09-02T23:55:00.000-07:00

By THE LEARNING NETWORK

stupefy •\ˈstü-pə-ˌfī, ˈstyü-\• verb

1. make dull or stupid or muddle with drunkenness or infatuation
2. make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow
3. be a mystery or bewildering to

An article appeared in the NY Times recently using this word. Read it here.

Daily English Lesson

2011-08-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

Golf is one of those rare games where a lower score is better. Each hole has a number called par, which is how many strokes it should take to complete. If it takes you fewer attempts than par, you’re more likely to beat your opponents.

Not only are Yani Tseng’s scores low, but her age is, too. At 22, she is the youngest man or woman to win five major golf championships. This Taiwanese superstar is currently ranked number 1 in the world, and with the LPGA tour about reach Asia, she was happy to meet with us to discuss her experience learning English and share some useful golf terms.

Click here to listen to the conversation and answer the quiz.

Good Luck and have fun!
Thank you Daily English

The Last of Heidi

2011-08-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dear students and followers,

I can't resist sharing with you this fabulous Blog, written by someone who really knows how to say it.
Go here to enjoy a day in Savognin as experienced by "Heidi".

Learn English

2011-08-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Elementary English podcast for you.
Follow this site daily and your English will improve for sure!
Brought to you by the British council.
So why not begin?

Reading Comprehension

2011-08-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yosemite National Park is in California.

Read about it and check your understanding.
Begin here

Vocabulary Building!

2011-08-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Feel like working on your vocabulary?

Here is a great place to do just that!

Matching Words

2011-08-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Have fun and improve your English by playing these matching games online.

Choose any of the games below and try to find the matching pairs. 'Game 1' is the easiest and 'Game 10' is the most difficult.

Begin here

Advanced practice anyone?

2011-08-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Hi English Learner,

Why not go here and practice a bit more for the Cambridge Certificate Advanced?

Sing-along counting song

2011-08-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Numbers sing-along for my young learners.

Begin here

Thanks once again to OUP

City Guides-Travel Tips & Photos

2011-08-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

An insider's guide to the essential city — where to sleep, eat and play.

Select A City

A note from your teacher

2011-08-15T01:54:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen!
Summer has been shorter than we had hoped, but needless to say,
it's time once again to begin English studies.
I don't know how you are feeling, but I can tell you-I am excited and ready for the challenge! I sincerely hope you are feeling this motivation as well.
See you next week!
Torrie

PET Sample Papers

2011-08-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Cambridge Preliminary English Test is at level B-1
of the Common European Framework.

Try these sample papers.

Infinitive or -ing?

2011-08-08T23:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we need to decide whether to use a verb in its:
•-ing form (doing, singing)

or

•infinitive form (to do, to sing).

For example, only one of the following sentences is correct. Which one?
•I dislike working late. (???)
•I dislike to work late. (???)

When to use the infinitive

The infinitive form is used after certain verbs:
- forget, help, learn, teach, train
- choose, expect, hope, need, offer, want, would like
- agree, encourage, pretend, promise
- allow, can/can't afford, decide, manage, mean, refuse

•I forgot to close the window.
•Mary needs to leave early.
•Why are they encouraged to learn English?
•We can't afford to take a long holiday.

The infinitive form is always used after adjectives, for example:
- disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved, sad, surprised

•I was happy to help them.
•She will be delighted to see you.

This includes too + adjective:
•The water was too cold to swim in.
•Is your coffee too hot to drink?

The infinitive form is used after adjective + enough:
•He was strong enough to lift it.
•She is rich enough to buy two.

When to use -ing

The -ing form is used when the word is the subject of a sentence or clause:
•Swimming is good exercise.
•Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

The -ing form is used after a preposition:
•I look forward to meeting you.
•They left without saying "Goodbye."

The -ing form is used after certain verbs:
- avoid, dislike, enjoy, finish, give up, mind/not mind, practise

•I dislike getting up early.
•Would you mind opening the window?

Some verbs can be followed by the -ing form or the infinitive without a big change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start. •It started to rain.

•It started raining.
•I like to play tennis.
•I like playing tennis.

PRACTICE TIME! Begin here

I like chicken! I like fish!

2011-08-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

Sing-along at the Oxford global sing-along site.

Click here to begin

Building Vocabulary:

2011-08-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Using Context Clues to Learn Word Meaning

When authors write, they often include context clues to the meaning of words they use but think that some of their readers may not know. The context clue is usually presented in the sentence or paragraph in which the word occurs. Sometimes a visual such as a picture is provided.

Here are six types of context clues used by authors to help the reader understand the meanings of words. An example is provided for each.

1. Definition context clue
The author includes a definition to help the reader understand the meaning of a word. In the following example, "tainted" is defined as having a disease.

The people of the town were warned not to eat the tainted fish. The local newspaper published a bulletin in which readers were clearly told that eating fish that had a disease could be very dangerous. This was especially true for fish caught in Lake Jean.

2. Synonym context clue
The author includes a synonym to help the reader understand the meaning of a word. A synonym is a word that means the same as or nearly the same as another word. In the following example, the synonym "pity" helps the reader understand the meaning of "compassion."

After seeing the picture of the starving children, we all felt compassion or pity for their suffering.

3. Antonym context clue
The author includes an antonym to help the reader understand the meaning of a word. An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. In the following example, the antonym "eager" helps the reader understand the meaning of "reluctant."

Joe was reluctant to take on the position of captain of the basketball team. He was afraid that the time it would take would hurt his grades. On the other hand, Billy was eager for the chance to be captain. He thought that being captain of the team would make him very popular in school.
4. Description context clue
The author includes one or more descriptions to help the reader understand the meaning of a word. In the following example, descriptions of President Kennedy as having charm, enthusiasm, and a magnetic personality help the reader understand the meaning of "charismatic."

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, our 35th president, improved human rights and equal rights for all people. He was a very charismatic president. People were attracted to his charm and enthusiasm. His personality was described as magnetic.
5. Summary context clue
The author makes a number of statements that help the reader understand the meaning of a word. In the following example, statements about being rude, showing no respect, having poor manners, and being impolite help the reader understand the meaning of "impertinent."

Andrea was a very impertinent young lady. She was so rude that she talked while her teacher was explaining a lesson. She showed no respect for other students. Her manners were very poor. Even her parents thought that Andrea was impolite.

6. Visual context clue
The author includes a picture, drawing, chart, graph, or other type of visual to help the reader understand the meaning of a word. In the following example, the picture and its caption that is close to the sentence helps the reader understand that "exultant" means great joy.

Peggy had an exultant look on her face.
Using the context clues provided by authors can help you learn the meaning of many new words.

Memory

2011-08-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever left your desk to get some paper and come back with a dictionary, only to have to go back a second time and get the paper?

The good news, however, is that everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information, which includes by the way your English skills.

These tips really got me excited. I am going to start using them today.

If I don't forget.

1
Exercise your brain. Regularly "exercising" the brain keeps it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills -- especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument -- challenge your brain with puzzles and games, you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning. Try some fun puzzle exercises everyday such as crosswords, Sudoku, and other games which are easy enough to for anyone.

2
Exercise daily. Regular aerobic exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body -- including the brain -- and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental "pictures".

3
Reduce stress. Chronic stress does in fact physically damage the brain, it can make remembering much more difficult. After prolonged stress, the brain will start to become affected and deteriorate. Stressful situations are recognized by the hypothalamus, which in turn signals the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland then secretes adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH) which influences the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline and later, cortisol (corticosteroids). The corticosteroids can weaken the blood-brain barrier and damage the hippocampus (the memory center). Ironically, the hippocampus controls the secretion of the hormone released by the hypothalamus through a process of negative feedback. After chronic stress, it will begin to deteriorate and will not be as efficient in regulating the degenerative corticosteroids, impairing memory. Neurogenesis (formation of new neurons) indeed exists in the hippocampus, but stress inhibits it.

Realistically speaking, stress may never be completely eliminated from one's life, but it definitely can be controlled. Even temporary stresses can make it more difficult to effectively focus on concepts and observe things. Try to relax, regularly practice yoga or other stretching exercises, and see a doctor if you have severe chronic stress as soon as possible.

4
Eat well and eat right. There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests (although small studies have shown some promising results for ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine). A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants -- broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example -- and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning. Feed your brain with such supplements as Thiamine, Niacin and Vitamin B-6.

Grazing, or eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, also seems to improve mental functioning (including memory) by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may negatively affect the brain. Make sure it's healthy stuff.

5
Take better pictures. Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One common situation where this occurs (and which almost everyone can relate to) is meeting new people. Often we don’t really learn people’s names at first because we aren’t really concentrating on remembering them. You’ll find that if you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you’ll do much better. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at an unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds and then turn the photograph over and describe or write down as many details as you can about the photograph. Try closing your eyes and picturing the photo in your mind. Use a new photograph each time you try this exercise, and with regular practice you will find you’re able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.

6
Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short-term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories before you can even form them is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things, so when you’re trying to remember something, avoid distractions and complicated tasks for a few minutes.

7
Sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep -- a minimum of seven hours a night -- may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory, according to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School.

8
Build your memorization arsenal. Memory pegs, memory palaces, and the Dominic System are just some techniques which form the foundation for mnemonic techniques, and which can visibly improve your memory. Memory pegs involve visualization methods in which you make use of various familiar landmarks, associating the to be learnt information to these various popular landmarks. This helps to trigger and enhance the memory process.

9
Venture out and learn from your mistakes. Go ahead and take a stab at memorizing the first one hundred digits of pi, or, if you've done that already, the first one thousand. Memorize the monarchs of England through your memory palaces, or your grocery list through visualization. Through diligent effort you will eventually master the art of memorization.

taken from http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Memory

Becoming a Flexible Reader

2011-07-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

To become a flexible reader, you need to know how to select and use a reading style that is consistent with your purpose for reading. There are three important reading styles you should learn to use. Each has its own purpose. Knowing when and how to use these three reading styles will make you a flexible reader. Read to learn about the three reading styles used by flexible readers.

Study Reading is the reading style used by flexible readers when their purpose is to read difficult material at a high level of comprehension. When using the Study Reading style, you should read at a rate that is slower than your normal reading rate. Further, as you read you must challenge yourself to understand the material. Study Reading will often require you to read material more than once to achieve a high level of comprehension. Sometimes, reading the material aloud will also help you improve your comprehension.

Skimming is the reading style used by flexible readers when their purpose is to quickly obtain a general idea about the reading material. The Skimming style is most useful when you have to read a large amount of material in a short amount of time. When using the Skimming style, you should identify the main ideas in each paragraph and ignore the details in supportive sentences. Because you are looking only for the main idea in each paragraph you read, a lower level of comprehension is to be expected than when using the Study Reading style.

Scanning is the reading style used by flexible readers when their purpose is to quickly locate a specific piece of information within reading material. The piece of information to be located may be contained in a list of names, words, numbers, short statements, and sometimes even in a paragraph. Since you know exactly what you are looking for, move your eyes quickly over the reading material until you locate the specific piece of information you need to find.

Before you begin your next reading assignment, identify your purpose for reading. Decide if you are reading for a high level of comprehension, trying to get a general idea about what you are reading, or looking for specific information. Then use the reading style that is appropriate for your reading purpose.

KET Sample Papers

2011-07-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Cambridge Preliminary English Test is at level A-2
of the Common European Framework.

Try these sample papers.

Berghaus

2011-07-18T02:15:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting video about the famous company. I loved the way they explained the English for Berghaus!

Begin here

2011-07-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

Good Listening in Class

It is important for you to be a good listener in class. Much of what you will have to learn will be presented verbally by your teachers. Just hearing what your teachers say is not the same as listening to what they say. Listening is a cognitive act that requires you to pay attention and think about and mentally process what you hear.

Here are some things you should do to be a good listener in class.

•Be Ready to Listen When You Come to Class. Make sure you complete all assigned work and readings. Review your notes from previous class sessions. Think about what you know about the topic that will be covered in class that day.

•Be Emotionally Ready to Listen When You Come to Class. Your attitude is important. Make a conscious choice to find the topic useful and interesting. Be committed to learning all that you can.

•Listen with a Purpose. Identify what you expect and hope to learn from the class session. Listen for these things as your teacher talks.

•Listen with an Open Mind. Be receptive to what your teacher says. It is good to question what is said as long as you remain open to points of view other than your own.

•Be Attentive. Focus on what your teacher is saying. Try not to daydream and let your mind wander to other things. It helps to sit in the front and center of the class and to maintain eye contact with your teacher.

•Be an Active Listener. You can think faster than your teacher can speak. Use this to your advantage by evaluating what is being said and trying to anticipate what will be said next. Take good written notes about what your teacher says. While you can think faster than your teacher can speak, you cannot write faster than your teacher can speak. Taking notes requires you to make decisions about what to write, and you have to be an active listener to do this.

•Meet the Challenge. Don't give up and stop listening when you find the information being presented difficult to understand. Listen even more carefully at these times and work hard to understand what is being said. Don't be reluctant to ask questions.

•Triumph Over the Environment. The classroom may be too noisy, too hot, too cold, too bright, or too dark. Don't give in to these inconveniences.

Stay focused on the big picture - LEARNING.

Energy in Iceland

2011-07-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Watch this video from www.youtube (published by Oxford University) about Iceland. It is very interesting!

Click here to view the video