Reading & Writing Practise

There are lots of different exams that people can take to improve their reading and writing. Here is a link to some exams: http://www.trinitycollege.com/site/?id=3032

You should practise Entry 2 exams. This will give you good reading practise and will give you some good ideas to practise your writing. When you finish your writing, ask the teacher in the Study Centre to check it.

How can I improve my English outside class? (Part one)

There are lots of things you can do to improve your English outside class. Here are a few ideas:

1. Write a diary. This is good practice for writing and vocabulary. You can ask the teacher in the Study Centre to check it. Write something in your diary every day. You can write about what you did last night (in the past) or what you are going to do the next day (Tomorrow, I am going to...). You can write about something you saw, something in the news, a person you met... Anything! Two or three sentences is enough.

2. Follow a twitter account or subscribe to a website. This account looks useful for elementary students: https://twitter.com/EP_Learning You could subscribe to a BBC podcast to practise your listening skills. For example, http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/6min_gram or http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/elt_drama It is important that you listen to the podcast several times a week. These podcasts might be useful for Chinese students: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/aab and http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/suk

3. Use songs to improve your vocabulary and pronunciation. http://lyricstraining.com/ is a good website where you can listen to the song and write in the missing words, but you can just listen to a song and find the lyrics on the internet.

IELTS Speaking Part Two

Here is a useful link to some questions you might see in the IELTS Speaking Exam. Remember, in part two, you need to talk about the questions on the card for one minute. The topics are general English (holidays, works, families etc). You need to talk about everything on the card. Look at the tenses used: do you need to talk about the past, the present, or the future:

http://www.usingenglish.com/files/pdf/101-ielts-speaking-part-two-topic-cards-that-tie-in-with-ielts-speaking-part-one.pdf

Elementary object questions

We use question words when we want to find out information.

The most common question words are:

what    for things     why     for reasons        where  for places       when   for times       who     for people     
whose  for possession  (Whose phone is this? It is Ryan's phone.)


how often     for frequency (sometimes, always, never)     how far        for distance
how long      for time  (an hour, 30 minutes)                       how old        for age
how much   for the number of uncountable nouns (How much fruit do you eat each day?)
how many   for the number of countable nouns (How many vegetable do you eat every day?)
how much   for the price of countable and uncountable nouns (How much is this laptop?)
how              for solving a problem  (How do you spell that? How do you say that in English? How do you make kabsa?)

Here is a game you can try. Click on the correct question word:
http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz87mca.htm

Here are some activities:
1. https://elt.oup.com/student/headway/elementary/a_grammar/unit04/hwy_elem_unit04_2?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
2. https://elt.oup.com/student/headway/elementary/a_grammar/unit04/hwy_elem_unit04_3?cc=gb&selLanguage=en

Elementary Listening

Here is a link to some exercises where you can practise listening:

http://www.talkenglish.com/Listening/ListenBasic.aspx

You need to click on the number (for example, #01), then click on Step 1. Then click on Step 2 to answer the questions. Finally, click on Step 3 and listen to the conversation again, but now you can read the text too.

Here is another link to some more listening practise: http://www.esl-lab.com/

Modals of obligation: Have to / Don't have to

We often want to talk about choices. For example,

1. "What do you want: a chicken sandwich or a cheese sandwich?" Here there is a choice. You can eat chicken or cheese. "You don't have to eat chicken. You can eat cheese."

2. "What do you want: a chicken sandwich or a chicken sandwich?" Here there is no choice. You can only eat chicken. "You have to eat chicken."

Reading websites

Here are some links to some websites where you can practise reading:

1. http://www.eslfast.com/
2. http://www.agendaweb.org/reading/comprehension_easy_interm1.html
3. http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading-elementary.php

Website: Elementary Games

Here is a link to a website with a lot of language games.

The games are mainly for children, but you can find the games fun and useful too. Try the games at Grade 2.

http://www.abcya.com/second_grade_computers.htm

These games are very useful for you:
1. http://www.abcya.com/dolch_sight_word_bingo.htm
2. http://www.abcya.com/dolch_sight_word_spelling.htm
3. http://www.abcya.com/nouns_and_verbs.htm

Grammar: Present Simple v Present Continuous

A lot of students find the differences between the present simple and the present continuous difficult. Let's remember:

 

Activities on Quizlet

Quizlet is a free website where you can practise your English.

You can make cards with English words and translate them into your own language. There are many different types of cards you can make, and when you make the cards, this will help you learn. Here is a link to some cards I have made:

http://quizlet.com/TeacherRyan

The cards can help you practise vocabulary and grammar.

Vocabulary: Family

Here are some games to practise vocabulary about family and people:

1.https://elt.oup.com/student/result/engelem/b_vocabulary/unit02/2b_1?cc=us&selLanguage=en
2. https://elt.oup.com/student/result/engelem/b_vocabulary/unit02/2b_2?cc=us&selLanguage=en
3. https://elt.oup.com/student/result/engelem/b_vocabulary/unit02/2c_1?cc=us&selLanguage=en
4. https://elt.oup.com/student/result/engelem/b_vocabulary/unit02/2c_3?cc=us&selLanguage=en

Vocabulary: Weather

The weather is a very important topic of conversation in this country!

Grammar Bubbles Game

Here is a link to the grammar game we played in class:http://gamestolearnenglish.com/grammar-bubbles/

Here is another game to practise longer sentences: http://gamestolearnenglish.com/falling-clouds/

Grammar: relative pronouns and relative clauses

Many students find relative clauses a difficult grammar point, but if you can use them correctly, you will significantly improve your writing. First, though, we need to look at relative pronouns.

There are lots of different pronouns in English and some you will already know: I, me, mine, you, yours, he, him, his etc. Relative pronouns are used to make questions and give extra information about people, places, times, things, and possessions.

Vocabulary: Food games

Here are some games you can play to learn vocabulary for food. Some of these are good for pronunciation too. Which games do you like?

1. https://elt.oup.com/student/i-spy/games/food?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
2. http://www.angles365.com/classroom/fitxers/1r2n/vegetables01.swf
3. http://www.angles365.com/classroom/fitxers/1r2n/food/fruitmemory.swf
4. http://www.angles365.com/classroom/fitxers/3r/food/vegetables2.swf
5. http://gamestolearnenglish.com/likes/
6. http://gamestolearnenglish.com/food/

Vocabulary: Holidays

There are lots of exercises about holidays here: http://www.esolcourses.com/topics/holidays-and-travel.html You can practise vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening.

Here is a short reading test: http://www.esolcourses.com/uk-english/elementary-course/travel-and-holidays/travel-and-holidays-reading.html

There are many more exercises on their homepage:
1. Elementary http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/elementary.html
2. Lower Intermediate http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/pre-intermediate.html

Listening tests: Lower Intermediate and above

There are lots of listening exercises on this website: http://www.esl-lab.com/

http://www.girlytwitter.com/source/Young_puppy_listening_to_music_on_head_phones.jpg

The actors have American accents and may use some American vocabulary. Although some listenings are labelled "easy", I think they are suitable for Lower Intermediate and above. They are quite short.

If you like the website, do tell Randall, the website owner.

Vocabulary: Transport and Holidays

Let's practise some vocabulary to talk about transport and holidays!

Grammar: Present simple or Present continuous

We have two present tenses you need to practise: the present simple and the present continuous. We use them to talk about different things and we make them in different ways. Look at the picture:

Grammar: Be

The verb be is very important in English. Some languages don't have the verb be, but in English, we use it a lot. It's important that you learn this verb.

Punctuation: full stops and capital letters

At the beginning of every sentence, you need to use a CAPITAL LETTER. We also use capital letters for names of:

people         countries           cities             languages              nationalities            companies           months        days         roads and streets          attractions (eg art galleries, museums, shopping centres)

Elementary Reading Website Links

Here are the links to the websites we talked about in class today.

First, here is a link to the Cambridge online dictionary:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/essential-british-english/

English Test Store has 35 reading tests. Do one every day:
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=31

News In Levels has easy to read news stories every week. Listen to the recording and try and write the first few sentences. Check your spelling and sentences with the reading text. Do one every week:
http://www.newsinlevels.com/

There are lots of graded readers in the Study Centre. Read one every week and complete the activities:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=graded%20readers%20level%202&sprefix=graded+readers+level+2%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Agraded%20readers%20level%202

Spelling: Spin and Spell

Here is a link to a website that can help you with your spelling: http://www.spinandspell.com/

Grammar: How much/how many?

How many squares are there in the picture?

 

Grammar: a/an/some/any

What can you see in the pictures?

1.

2.

 

3.

 

Spelling: Plurals

Do you need to practise spelling plural nouns? This game can help you.

(image: http://fallingrock1.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/gnome-fishing.jpg)

Remember, for most words                                      + s
If the word ends with vowel + y                               + s
If the word ends with consonant +y                         + ies
If the word ends with sh, ch, s, z, x or o                   + es

This is true for 3rd person verbs too: Carlos watches TV. Martha goes to the cinema. Saddam studies every day.

Here is the link for the game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/game/en16plur-game-plural-fishing

Grammar: Possessives

We often want to talk about things people own or possess. We can do this by using a possessive adjective, or by using the person's name or job +'s (apostrophe s) .

Grammar: a/an/the

We often need to use a, an  or the when we talk about nouns.

(image: http://www.kienthucduhoc.com)

We use a with consonant sounds. For example, computer, pen, teacher, banana
We use an with vowel sounds. For example, orange, apple, umbrella.

Reading: People and places

In the class, we read about Isabel from Peru. She lives in Arequipa:

(image: http://www.ucsp.edu.pe)

Vocabulary: Nationalities

Here are some links to practise vocabulary for nationalities:

(image: http://englishinaction1-stlisieux.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/unit-3-countries-nationalities-languages.html)

1. https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/elementary/b_vocabulary/bank02/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en
2. https://elt.oup.com/student/result/engelem/b_vocabulary/unit03/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en

Game: Any/Some/Countable Nouns

Here is a little game to practise any/some/a/an: https://elt.oup.com/student/result/engelem/c_games/game_03?cc=gb&selLanguage=en

Have or Has?

Have is an irregular verb in the present: I have, you have, he has. we have, they have. A lot of students find this difficult to remember.

 The negative of he has is ..... ?

Present simple tense

We use the present simple tense to talk about facts which are always true, and to talk about daily routines and habits. For example;

I get up in the morning at 7 o'clock, and I go to work at 8.15. We have a break around 10 o'clock and the lesson finishes at 11.30. I teach an elective class until 1 o'clock. In the afternoon, I plan the next lesson and mark homework, but on Wednesdays, I go to university. 

Vocabulary: Food

Here is a link to some games and activities to practise food and drink vocabulary: https://elt.oup.com/student/result/engelem/b_vocabulary/unit06/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en

Can you name all the vegetables in the picture?

Here is another link to more practise: https://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/elementary/b_vocabulary/bank14/?cc=gb&selLanguage=en

Grammar: Past tense practice

When we want to talk about actions which started and finished in the past, we use a past simple tense. Verbs can be regular or irregular.

Listening websites

Do you need to practise your listening skills? Here are some websites that can help you:

People: I/you/he/she/it/we/they (Personal pronouns)

When we use verbs, we need to say who is doing the action. Sometimes it is one person (singular), sometimes it is more than one person (plural).

Verbs

We use verbs to talk about actions. For example, fly, arrive, come, study, read, write

We use verbs to talk about different times and when we do something. For example, in the past (yesterday), in the present (today) or in the future (tomorrow). These different times are called tenses, so we have a past tense, a present tense and a future tense.

Sometimes we also want to say how long we do something: every day, for a short time, at the moment. For this we need to use different types of tense. For example, we use a present simple tense to talk about things we do every day, and we use a present continuous tense to talk about things we are doing at the moment.

The most common English verbs are:

be  have  do  say  get  make  know  go  take  see  come  think  look  want  give  use  find  tell  work  ask  seem  feel  try  leave  call

Saying hello and goodbye

There are lots of different ways to say hello and goodbye in English. You need to think about the situation: is it formal (like in an office, or when you meet someone for the first time "Good morning. My name's Ryan.") or is it informal (like when you meet your friends "Hi Ryan! How's it going?")?

Listen to the conversation here: https://elt.oup.com/student/headway/elementary/f_everydayenglish/hwy_elem_dialogue01?cc=gb&selLanguage=en

For practise, change which parts you want to see. Click on Part A. Now you can only see Part B. Listen again. Can you write Part A?
Now click the parts you want to hear. Click on Part B. Listen again. Can you speak the missing words from Part B?

There is some useful vocabulary and a short test here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1142_greeting/page2.shtml  Listen to the recording and practise the vocabulary the next time you talk to people. Do you need formal or informal language?

Practising Punctuation: BBC Skillswise

Here is a link to the punctuation practise we did this morning: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic/punctuation

There are many more activities on the BBC Skillswise website. Explore the website and let me know what you think. Which activities do you find the most useful and enjoyable? Is there anything you want to practise more in class? Leave a comment and let me know.

Vocabulary Games: Describing people

There are lots of games on different websites to help you learn vocabulary. Here are some online games you can try to help you learn some adjectives you can use to describe people. The website is called www.manythings.org

Grammar: -ed/-ing adjectives

Do you feel confused when you see different adjectives? Do you think adjectives are confusing? You are not alone.

There are many different suffixes (final letters) for adjectives. Among the most common are: -ive (positive), -ible (possible), -able (comfortable), -ish (babyish), and -ed/-ing (confused/confusing). Let's look at -ed/-ing adjectives.

State verbs

Q: Which famous company uses incorrect grammar in their advertisements?

In English, we can use verbs to talk about actions or feelings and emotions. Verbs that describe actions, for example, run, write, sing, are called action or dynamic verbs. We can use them in both simple and continuous tenses: Sorry, I can't stop! I am running a race!/ I run two miles every day.