Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
10 Fun & Easy Ways to Learn English Faster
10 Fun & Easy Ways to Learn English Faster
We’ve all heard a thousand times that the only way to really learn English is to be totally immersed in the language, completely surrounded by it everywhere you go. But we wanted to go deeper than that and find quick and easy ways to start getting immersed. So our research team put together 10 steps that you can follow, in this order, to make learning English faster and a whole lot more fun.
#1: Find some English radio stations and podcasts in iTunes
There are tons of podcasts about all topics imaginable these days: entertainment, politics, news. A good way to find one is to look for a podcast from a TV channel you usually watch in your cable TV. Look for one that interests you and listen to it in your car while driving. You’ll train your ear that way!
There are tons of podcasts about all topics imaginable these days: entertainment, politics, news. A good way to find one is to look for a podcast from a TV channel you usually watch in your cable TV. Look for one that interests you and listen to it in your car while driving. You’ll train your ear that way!
#2: Check out the Top Videos on YouTube and watch for at least a few minutes
Most of them are hilarious! It will be so worth it. Try looking at the comments to pick up some words and sentences you aren’t familiar with, but be careful there is all kinds of bizarre stuff in YouTube comments.
Most of them are hilarious! It will be so worth it. Try looking at the comments to pick up some words and sentences you aren’t familiar with, but be careful there is all kinds of bizarre stuff in YouTube comments.
#3: Talk and sing to yourself in English
When you are alone at home, or of course in the shower, start talking! Sing a song in English the way it sounds to you, talk about the weather or any other topic. Do this frequently and your pronunciation will drastically improve – guaranteed!
When you are alone at home, or of course in the shower, start talking! Sing a song in English the way it sounds to you, talk about the weather or any other topic. Do this frequently and your pronunciation will drastically improve – guaranteed!
4#: Do you have an English-speaking idol? Go to YouTube and watch all of his/her interviews in English
You can spend hours doing that listening to interviews and it sure won’t feel like studying. But it is! It helps you a great deal.
You can spend hours doing that listening to interviews and it sure won’t feel like studying. But it is! It helps you a great deal.
5#: Sit near people who are speaking English on the bus or in the park. Listen in…
Okay now don’t be a creepy eavesdropper! But, see what words you can pick up and listen to the flow of the conversation. How much did you understand? What general topic were they talking about? Did you hear an interesting word you might want to look up after?
Okay now don’t be a creepy eavesdropper! But, see what words you can pick up and listen to the flow of the conversation. How much did you understand? What general topic were they talking about? Did you hear an interesting word you might want to look up after?
#6: Pay attention to billboards, signs, advertisements, magazine stands and establishment names
Look and think about what these ads mean. How many words do you recognize? Did you see that same word elsewhere? Make up sentences about what you’re seeing.
Look and think about what these ads mean. How many words do you recognize? Did you see that same word elsewhere? Make up sentences about what you’re seeing.
#7: Love music? Try figuring out the words/lyrics of your favorite songs
Watch video clips with lyrics on YouTube and sing along. Read the translation and build up your vocabulary. Listen to “clean” versions of songs and try to figure out what dirty words were taken out. It’s fun!
Watch video clips with lyrics on YouTube and sing along. Read the translation and build up your vocabulary. Listen to “clean” versions of songs and try to figure out what dirty words were taken out. It’s fun!
#8: Watch TV clips, episodes or soap operas in English
It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand what they’re saying, watch anyway! Try to understand why something is funny or sad . If the joke is related to the word itself, then maybe that is why the joke does not make sense in your native language. What would be the best translation into your language then?
It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand what they’re saying, watch anyway! Try to understand why something is funny or sad . If the joke is related to the word itself, then maybe that is why the joke does not make sense in your native language. What would be the best translation into your language then?
#9: Engage in a conversation on Facebook with friends who post in English
When you have English speakers in your timeline, you see their posts daily and get inside information about news and viral videos in English. Your friends can be your teachers! Their timeline basically sort out the best material for you to study.
When you have English speakers in your timeline, you see their posts daily and get inside information about news and viral videos in English. Your friends can be your teachers! Their timeline basically sort out the best material for you to study.
#10: Produce, produce, produce. No matter how shy you are or how much you don’t “get” English, force yourself to speak
Help out a tourist who looks lost. They won’t mind you struggling with the language while you’re doing them a favor! After class, talk to your teacher about how things are going and what you need help with in English. When traveling, ask around for directions in English, even if you don’t need them! Try purchasing things online and by phone, or using customer support in English.
It does not matter if you talk slowly, you are learning, that’s only natural!
Help out a tourist who looks lost. They won’t mind you struggling with the language while you’re doing them a favor! After class, talk to your teacher about how things are going and what you need help with in English. When traveling, ask around for directions in English, even if you don’t need them! Try purchasing things online and by phone, or using customer support in English.
It does not matter if you talk slowly, you are learning, that’s only natural!
BONUS TIP: When seeing a new movie look up the original title on IMDB.com
The translation sometimes does not correspond directly to the original. Find out what the original title really means. Ask yourself how the translation makes sense. What is the relation to the movie? You will never forget a new word that once it’s associated with an unforgettable movie. Works every time!
The translation sometimes does not correspond directly to the original. Find out what the original title really means. Ask yourself how the translation makes sense. What is the relation to the movie? You will never forget a new word that once it’s associated with an unforgettable movie. Works every time!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
To be in a strop: To be angry; to be in a bad mood.
- He's been in a strop since he knew about what hapend to his girlfriend.
- She's in a strop because they wouldn't let her have Friday off.
- Our French teacher is always in a strop.
Pig out: To eat a lot and eat it quickly.
- The kids have been pigging out all night.
- I really love to pig out on paella.
- Mom made some muffin cakes. Let's pig out!
- I used to pig out on hotdogs when I was playing playstation.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
The phrase of the day
http://www.ihbristol.com/english-phrases
Not to my knowledge
We use this expression to say that we think something is not true or has not happened as far as we know..
- Spoken
- Written
- Formal
- Informal
b Example 1
- Have Phil and Fatima arrived yet?
- Not to my knowledge. They usually get here about ten.
b Example 2
- Is there a bank around here?
- Not to my knowledge. I think there's one nearer the centre, though.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Useful expressions about Love
Useful expressions about Love
love
This verb is classed as a stative verb, because it describes a person’s emotional state, as opposed to an action. This means that it is normally used in the non-progressive form (“I love” not “I’m loving”). However, since 2003, the slogan for McDonald’s has been “I’m lovin’ it”, which was the name of a hit single by Justin Timberlake. Language purists dislike this usage, but it’s generally accepted in informal situations.
I love verb + -ing
To talk about your hobbies or your likes in general:
■ I love swimming.
I love to + infinitive
To describe something in more detail:
■ I love to swim in the lake every morning.
I’d/I would love to!
To accept an invitation:
■ Would you like to join us for lunch? — I’d love to!
I’d/I would love to..., but...
To talk about something that you would like to do, but can’t:
■ I’d love to join you, but I have a meeting.
love at first sight
To explain that you have loved someone or something from the first moment on:
■ When I saw their new smartphone, I knew it was love at first sight.
not for love or money
To show something is not available or possible, or that you absolutely will not do something:
■ After the hurricane, we couldn’t get a room in New York — not for love or money.
there’s no love lost between them
To say that two or more people do not like each other:
■ There’s clearly no love lost between them. They argue all the time about the designs.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Phrasal verbs
| What are phrasal verbs? |
| 1. A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.
Example:
2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verbI ran into my teacher at the movies last night. run + into = meet He ran away when he was 15. run + away = leave home cannot be followed by an object.
Example:
3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can beHe suddenly showed up. "show up" cannot take an object followed by an object.
Example:
4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object isI made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up" placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb.
Example:
5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable.I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car. She looked the phone number up. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb.
Example:
6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places.I ran into an old friend yesterday. They are looking into the problem. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + .
Example:
7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an objectI looked the number up in the phone book. I looked up the number in the phone book. in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.
Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book. I looked up the number in the phone book. I looked it up in the phone book. correct I looked up it in the phone book. incorrect |
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
EVER WONDER...
Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why you don't ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
Why "abbreviated" is such a long word?
Why doctors call what they do "practice"?
Why you have to click on "Start" to stop Windows 98?
Why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor, while dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons?
Why the man who invests all your money is called a broker?
Why there isn't mouse-flavored cat food? who tastes dog food when it has a "new & improved" flavor?
Why they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
Why they don't make the whole plane out of the material used for the indestructible black box ?
Why sheep don't shrink when it rains?
Why they are called apartments when they are all stuck together? if con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
Why they call the airport "the terminal" if flying is so safe?
Why sheep don't shrink when it rains?
Why they are called apartments when they are all stuck together? if con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
Why they call the airport "the terminal" if flying is so safe?
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