Thursday, March 31, 2011

gap fill


Open cloze exercises based on the Proficiency Exam.



The subject here is Global English. Practice here!

Relative Clauses


Read about San Francisco and practice your relative clauses!

The Golden Gate Bridge connects the city of San Francisco and San Francisco (Halbinsel) Peninsula. It spans the Golden Gate, a (Meerenge) strait between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay–that’s where the name Golden Gate Bridge comes from.

Construction on the bridge began in 1933 and was completed in 1937. The bridge rises 230 m above the water. With its total length of 1970 meters it was the longest (Hängebrücke) suspension bridge in the world until 1964. The bridge is part of the United States Highway 101, has six (Fahrspuren) lanes and a footpath on each side.

Thanks to Ego4U.com

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Grammar Challenge

so and such

Some people find this week's grammar point so tricky they give up trying to work out the rule! Luckily, Grammar Challenge is on hand to give such a clear explanation that everyone's doubts should be cleared up.

Toy Fair 2011:

The 15 Smartest Toys for Young Geniuses

#1 Sing-a-ma-jigs Duets
Read more:
Sing-a-ma-jigs Duets

invalidate

invalidate •\(ˌ)in-ˈva-lə-ˌdāt\• verb

1. declare or show to be invalid; render weak or ineffective, as an argument
2. make invalid for use
3. take away the legal force of or render ineffective

The word invalidate simply means to make something no longer valid. 'My ski pass is no longer good. The date is past. It is invalid.'

“Puerto Rico Extends Deadline for Birth Certificates,” by Isolde Raftery:


Last December, in an effort to curb passport fraud, the Puerto Rican legislature created a new, more secure birth certificate that would be available as of July 1. The initial plan was to invalidate all previously issued birth certificates as of the same date. But on Friday, the government finalized a measure that keeps the old birth certificates valid until Sept. 30, while also making the new certificates available as of Thursday.

… For decades, it was common practice for Puerto Ricans to order a dozen copies of their birth certificates and hand them out to just about anyone – the ballet instructor, the elementary school secretary, the prospective employer.

It seemed a benign practice, one borne of habit more than necessity. But in time, it resulted in rampant fraud.

Friday, March 18, 2011

March 2011

Shall we assume that Americans are truly THAT shallow? In my opinion NO.


shallow-adj If you describe a person, piece of work, or idea as shallow, you disapprove of them because they do not show or involve any serious or careful thought., (disapproval) I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy...

How do others see you?



Try this questionaire.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Vocabulary Rocks!


Learning vocabulary is one of the first steps of learning a second language. Various methods can help to learn new vocabulary. Analysing vocabulary and learning strategies such as linking words through association, memorisation and repetition are important.
Reading in vocabulary building is a MUST. Practising is a MUST.

So how do I motivate you?

Start here!