Thursday 15 December 2016
Tuesday 6 December 2016
Wednesday 30 November 2016
'It helped me grow up': students on why the Erasmus scheme must stay
Britain leaving the EU could put the Erasmus student exchange scheme under threat. Six former students explain why this matters.
Click here to read article.
Click here to read article.
WHY I LOVE ... BILBAO
The once dirty, industrial city now revels in its modern architecture and enterprising outlook, while preserving its traditions and cuisine.
Click here to read article.
Click here to read article.
Sunday 20 November 2016
Testing, Testing | Linda Darling-Hammond | TEDxStanford
Many of you seemed to be interested in the topic of exams. You might find this video interesting.
After watching the video, can you answer the following questions?
1. Linda Darling-Hammond says that exams are 'a distraction from real learning', 'useless' and 'they predict almost nothing about your success later in life'. What makes her think that?
2. What skills do they look for in companies like Google?
3. What happens to schools in the US if they don't meet the targets?
4. How are students assessed in successful countries like Singapore?
5. How are exams changing in California (Lexi's state)?
Is there anything she says that you agree with?
After watching the video, can you answer the following questions?
1. Linda Darling-Hammond says that exams are 'a distraction from real learning', 'useless' and 'they predict almost nothing about your success later in life'. What makes her think that?
2. What skills do they look for in companies like Google?
3. What happens to schools in the US if they don't meet the targets?
4. How are students assessed in successful countries like Singapore?
5. How are exams changing in California (Lexi's state)?
Is there anything she says that you agree with?
Friday 18 November 2016
Hillary Clinton: I Want To Curl Up And Never Leave The House Again
You never know when you're going to come across the vocabulary we've studied in class. Here is Hillary Clinton using one of the expressions we saw the other day.
Tuesday 15 November 2016
GOBBLEDYGOOK
GOBBLEDYGOOK: Meaningless, empty phrases that make it look like you know what you're talking about.
'It was too hot, even to leave home': stories from the world's hottest year
GROUP 671: We talked about climate change in Lexi's class. Here is the whole article
Sunday 6 November 2016
Connected speech
In English it's very common that the last consonant of the first word is joined to the first vowel of the next word.
Try reading this aloud:
Look what happens with -ed endings
Try reading this aloud:
Look what happens with -ed endings
EDsongs 1 from Luiz Otávio Barros on Vimeo.
Saturday 5 November 2016
Native English speakers are the worst communicators
In a room full of non-native speakers, ‘there isn’t any chance of understanding’. It might be their language, but the message is often lost.
By Lennox Morrison
31 October 2016
It was just one word in one email, but it triggered huge financial losses for a multinational company.
The message, written in English, was sent by a native speaker to a colleague for whom English was a second language. Unsure of the word, the recipient found two contradictory meanings in his dictionary. He acted on the wrong one.
Months later, senior management investigated why the project had flopped, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. “It all traced back to this one word,” says Chia Suan Chong, a UK-based communications skills and intercultural trainer, who didn't reveal the tricky word because it is highly industry-specific and possibly identifiable. “Things spiralled out of control because both parties were thinking the opposite.”
Read more
By Lennox Morrison
31 October 2016
It was just one word in one email, but it triggered huge financial losses for a multinational company.
The message, written in English, was sent by a native speaker to a colleague for whom English was a second language. Unsure of the word, the recipient found two contradictory meanings in his dictionary. He acted on the wrong one.
Months later, senior management investigated why the project had flopped, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. “It all traced back to this one word,” says Chia Suan Chong, a UK-based communications skills and intercultural trainer, who didn't reveal the tricky word because it is highly industry-specific and possibly identifiable. “Things spiralled out of control because both parties were thinking the opposite.”
Read more
Monday 31 October 2016
Tuesday 25 October 2016
Theresa May says Brexit negotiations will not be carried out in French
Prime minister responds to report that the EU’s chief negotiator wants talks in his native tongue
It was perhaps just une tempête dans un verre d’eau, or a storm in a teacup. When reports emerged that British officials would be forced to negotiate the UK’s divorce with the EU in French, Downing Street was quick to dismiss the idea.
Read more
It was perhaps just une tempête dans un verre d’eau, or a storm in a teacup. When reports emerged that British officials would be forced to negotiate the UK’s divorce with the EU in French, Downing Street was quick to dismiss the idea.
Read more
Monday 24 October 2016
Tuesday 18 October 2016
Wednesday 12 October 2016
Did you notice?
GROUP 671
Lexi used one of the food idioms in the video. Which one was it?
But it was slightly different. How did she say it?
Lexi used one of the food idioms in the video. Which one was it?
But it was slightly different. How did she say it?
Donald Trump and women
GROUP 671
Further to our discussion about Clinton and Trump at Lexi's session, you might be interested in listening to this episode of Woman's Hour
Click here
Further to our discussion about Clinton and Trump at Lexi's session, you might be interested in listening to this episode of Woman's Hour
Click here
Sunday 9 October 2016
Shakespeare: Original pronunciation
What did English sound like in Shakespeare's times? How has it changed?
Thursday 6 October 2016
What's the difference between 'tired' and 'exhausted'?
Earlier on this morning someone wanted to find out more about gradable/regular and non-gradable/strong adjectives. This video might prove helpful.
Tuesday 4 October 2016
David Crystal on Texting
David Crystal is a well-known linguist who writes about English in a very engaging way. His books are entertaining and accessible. If you are interested in the English language, I highly recommend you to read some of the articles on his webpage. Click David Crystal
Will he think texting is good or bad for English?
Will he think texting is good or bad for English?
Meera Syal hates the over-use of the word 'like'
Watch this clip from ROOM 101, the BBC programme. Why does the over-use of 'like' drive Meera Syal nuts?
Friday 30 September 2016
Dame Ellen MacArthur: The surprising thing I learned sailing solo around...
Here is Ellen MacArthur on TED talks. Start watching it and I bet you'll soon be engrossed.
Wednesday 28 September 2016
Kanzi, the Bonobo talks to reporters
Here is a video for those of you interested in finding out more about Kanzi, the bonobo that can communicate using a keyboard with lexigrams.
Sunday 25 September 2016
THOMASINA MIERS
In unit 1A there is an article about Tommi Miers, the well-known British chef, and her life-changing experience at learning Spanish. In this video you can watch the whole story. Click here.
'That one decision to learn the Spanish language has shaped my entire career. It has shaped, you know, what I've done with my life. There's a bit of Mexican now. It will always be there'
'That one decision to learn the Spanish language has shaped my entire career. It has shaped, you know, what I've done with my life. There's a bit of Mexican now. It will always be there'
Wednesday 4 May 2016
Monday 18 April 2016
Wednesday 6 April 2016
Wednesday 16 March 2016
Sunday 6 March 2016
Wednesday 2 March 2016
Noun and verb syllable stress
Some nouns and verbs have the same form in English.
For example:
She set an Olympic record. (noun)
She's recording her new song in the studios.(verb)
However, the pronunciation (i.e. syllable stress) is different. Where "record" is used as a noun, the stress is on the first syllable: RE-cord (where "re" is the same sound as the "re" in "relative").
But when "record" is used as a verb, the stress is on the second syllable: re-CORD, and the "re" sounds like "ri", as in "remember".)
Click here to do some practice
For example:
She set an Olympic record. (noun)
She's recording her new song in the studios.(verb)
However, the pronunciation (i.e. syllable stress) is different. Where "record" is used as a noun, the stress is on the first syllable: RE-cord (where "re" is the same sound as the "re" in "relative").
But when "record" is used as a verb, the stress is on the second syllable: re-CORD, and the "re" sounds like "ri", as in "remember".)
Click here to do some practice
How to Integrate Language Learning into Daily Life
How to Integrate Language Learning into Daily Life: Follow these tips for a low-impact, hassle-free approach to making a new language a part of
your daily life.
Wednesday 24 February 2016
Monday 22 February 2016
Thursday 18 February 2016
Monday 1 February 2016
Zzzzzzzzz … 12 simple steps to a good night’s sleep
Insomnia affects up to one in three of us. So what can you do about it? From the ‘magic yawn’ to the 90-minute rule, psychologist Richard Wiseman offers 12 rules for the perfect rest
How to cope with night terrors
How to choose the perfect mattress
‘Getting a good night’s sleep is surprisingly simple’
Monday 18 January 2016
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