Tag: improve your English

Survival Kit for English Learners PART #2

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This is the 2nd part of the “Survival Kit” for English Language Learners. Many students want to practice English, but it’s difficult for them to find someone willing to talk with them in English. There are several websites online where you can look for English speakers willing to talk with you and learn your language while helping you improving your English skills. Furthermore, there are WhatsApp groups. I will try to narrow them down to 5.

1. PALTALK

paltalk language exchange online speak English

You have to download it, but you don’t have to pay anything.

Once opened, it looks like this:

23-06-2016-11-08-37

As you can see, you can either create a new room or join one. For instance, by clicking “What’s hot” I’ve found a chat room called “English practice room for people around the world”, probably a useful one ;-). Paltalk is very easy to use.

What else … It’s possible to video chat, but it’s not mandatory. If you’re shy or you’re not up to a video chat, just turn off the webcam.

Link: http://www.paltalk.com/

2. ITALKI: Learn a Language Online

Italki Learn a Language Online.png

 Watch this video and see how it works:

On Italki you can find Native English Speakers willing to learn your language (the Language Exchange feature is free).

Language Exchange free Italki.png

On Italki, you can also read interesting articles, discuss with other people interesting topics, and with Notebook you can improve your writing skills:

23-06-2016-11-33-01

Link: https://www.italki.com/

3. MY LANGUAGE EXCHANGE

My Language Exchange.png

For example, I’ve looked for native English speakers who want to learn Italian. As you can see, there are more than 60000 people willing to speak English with me while learning Italian:

23-06-2016-11-51-02

Link: https://www.mylanguageexchange.com/

4. MY ENGLISH TEACHER

On this website, you can find people to practice English with (on Skype or on WhatsApp), useful tips and resources.

My English Teacher WhatsApp group and Skype

23-06-2016-12-03-51.png

Link for WhatsApp: http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/question/does-anybody-want-to-practice-english-on-whatsapp/

Link for Skype: http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/question/practice-english-on-skype-for-free/

5. BUSUU

This is probably one of the most famous Language Exchange Websites, not all the features are for free, but you can get corrections from native speakers, writing exercises, and flashcards for free.

Busuu.png

Link: https://www.busuu.com/

 

Helena Christensen & Portrait Photographer Mary Ellen Mark Capture™ – Episode 7 LISTENING ACTIVITY

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I suggest that you read the vocabulary list below before watching the video.

VOCABULARY

 

Hitch – hiking: to get a ride in a passing vehicle by holding out your arm with your thumb up as you stand on the side of the road.hitchhiking.gif


Scope: the area or amount covered, reached, or viewed.
Ex. Romance questions are beyond the scope of the language forum.

Standstill: a condition in which all movement or activity has stopped.
Ex. This is an emergency, but the negotiations are at a virtual standstill.

Creepy:   strange or scary : causing people to feel nervous and afraid.
Ex. This is the creepy stalker woman from the surveillance video.

 To broom: to sweep the floor with a broom.

to broom meaning.jpg

To kick in: to start to have an effect or to happen.
Ex. The effects of the tranquilizer should begin to kick in within a few minutes.

Harsh: cruel or unkind.
Ex. She was quite harsh with the kids. She should be nicer to them.

Guarded: very careful about giving information, showing feelings, etc.

Vocal: expressing opinions and complaints in a public and forceful way.
Ex. Residents became vocal in their opposition to the plan.

To blow up: to make a photographic enlargement of.

Dull: boring, not exciting or interesting.

To tear up: to damage, remove, or effect an opening in.

Mind-blowing: extremely exciting or surprising.
Ex. The special effects in this film are pretty mind-blowing.

Goosebumps: small bumps on your skin that are caused by cold, fear, or a sudden feeling of excitement.

Downloadable PDF file: Helena Christensen & Portrait Photographer Mary Ellen Mark Capture™ Ep. 7 – VOCABULARY

Fill in the gaps in the following sentences:

  1. Helena Christensen: I ____________________ around the world when I was about 18-19 years old and I think my interest and passion for photography probably started on that trip. And then almost immediately that trip ended my _______________ _________________ started and so then I got to see the world.
  2. Voice-over: I’ve had the rare opportunity to meet many amazing photographers who moved through the different _________________ to create powerful images.
  3. Mark Seliger: I’m here with Mary Ellen Mark photojournalist and portrait photographer ___________ work has changed, I think, the _________ of modern photography.
  4. Mark Seliger: It was very ________________ to me because there was photojournalism but there was also this very ____________ and creative way that images were presented.
  5. Mary Ellen Mark: Magazines were like ______________ for me, they gave me this amazing opportunity to do my own work.
  6. Helena Christensen: When I’m behind the camera I seem to stop breathing because I get so ______________ by the moment. It’s almost like everything just came to a standstill.
  7. Mary Ellen Mark: The guy that ran the ______________ … We called him doctor death.
  8. Helena Christensen: You know what is strange about this photo? I don’t even know where I took it and the negative was ______________ together with a piece of paper so when I _______ it ____________ obviously all that white stuff which looks like ice on a window […].
  9. Helena Christensen: We don’t live in these areas so we are not ______________ the same ways. When you are in it, you feel it in a way that’s inexplicable.
  10. Helena Christensen: And it was one of those moments when you are like … your adrenaline … just … you know … __________ ________, because you’re like … oh, this is one of those.
  11. HelenaChristensen: It’s very harsh as Mary Ellen was saying. People are very ______________, more and more.
  12. Helena Christensen: That’s kind of what I feel you do with your portraits. You get the ___________ essence of these people no matter of how they are dressed up, no matter how they’re made up. You go right through to the _____________ of them.
  13. Mary Ellen Mark: When you are working with an actor you have to __________ control.
  14. Mary Ellen Mark: I think I have so much stronger pictures. For some reason, that picture became an ____________ picture.
  15. Helena Christensen: It’s very important and I feel with contact sheets which we are now losing because no one ever get contact sheets back anymore and sits with 24 or 26 images. But now that I _______ __ _____ at my old contact sheets, I see something completely different in some of the photographs that I would have never even … you know … been the least excited about maybe fifteen years ago …I’m now … Why didn’t I __________ this up?!?
  16. Mary Ellen Mark: Right when I was taking that picture the ____________ of the high school walked in … I thought he was gonna like throw me out … But he didn’t.

Downloadable PDF file (without answers):Helena Christensen & Portrait Photographer Mary Ellen Mark Capture™ – Episode 7 FILL IN THE GAPS

Downloadable PDF file (ANSWERS):Helena Christensen & Portrait Photographer Mary Ellen Mark Capture™ – Episode 7 ANSWERS

IELTS preparation – Quiz on confusing words

Published on by Anna2 Comments

Test your knowledge of English for IELTS - Confusing words.jpg

Downloadable PDF version: Confusing words and false friends

Answers: Confusing words and false friends – Answers

English4Gamers – Episode 3 – Super Mario Bros (Listening comprehension)

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In this episode, we play again Super Mario Bros. At the beginning, there is a vocabulary list  – you can find a printable version below -with all the words you will hear and maybe you don’t know. During the episode, you will have to answer some questions. If you have any suggestions, write them in the comments below. I know I have to speak louder ;-). We filmed this weeks ago, now I’m a bit better (at least, I hope so). If you just want to watch the video, without testing your knowledge, click here: Episode without the quiz.

Interactive English Quiz - Listening - English4Gamers - Free English Materials For You

Downloadable PDF – Vocabulary list: Vocabulary list – English4Gamers – Episode 3 – Super Mario Bros

The second episode of English4Gamers is out!

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In this episode, we are going to play Street Fighters II Turbo, another retro game. At the beginning of the video, you will learn some words you may not know. Then, while watching the episode, you will have to answer to some questions. I hope you will like it ;-).

English4Gamers - Episode 2 - Street Fighter II.jpg

If you just want to watch the video, without the quiz, you can watch it here:

Words you will hear and you may not know:

  • TO KICK SOMEONE’S ASS= to beat someone in a game, competition or argument.
  • PUNCH = a quick hit with your fist.punch.jpg
  • KICK = an act of hitting someone or something with your foot.kick.png

  • UNFAIR = not fair; not right; not acceptable.
  • BEAM = a line of light coming from a source.
    beam of light meaning.jpg
  • MONK = a member of a religious community.
  • OPPONENT = adversary; a person, team, group, etc., that is competing against another in a contest.

 

Listening activity – English4Gamers

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Watch the first episode of English for gamers and fill in the gaps with the missing words

  1. A: You are the good gamer […] you __________________.
  2. A: He ____________________ . I _____________ like ten times.
  3. R: I didn’t get the ____________ score. That’s ________.
  4. A: So, this is a _________ of cake.
  5. R: With the flower you can _________________ fire.
  6. R: You have ____________  the second controller.
  7. R: Can you say it? Restart? That ____________  like Richard.
  8. R: You are too ____________ you can’t break it _____________ now.
  9. A: I _____________  my ________________. […] I would like you _____________ me when there is a mushroom somewhere maybe.
  10. R: Time is running ___________.
  11. A: These creatures are blue. What’s the __________________?
  12. R: There is no light so it’s all in ___________________.
  13. R: On the sides of the ______________ the game doesn’t exist. So if you go ____________________, you can’t go back.
  14. R: How do you say it? The ______________ on the back of the turtles?
  15. A: You _______________________  fun of me.
  16. A: Okay guys, __________ _____ it for today. So … See you next week!

Downloadable PDF file: Episode 1 – English4Gamers – Fill in the gaps

Answers: Episode 1 – English4Gamers – Fill in the gaps – Answers

Spot the mistakes

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Can you spot all the mistakes?

  1. I am the good gamer and I play with good character.
  2. It don’t work.
  3. If you are talking to me, then I got distracted.
  4. A turtle on a cloud that trow another turtle.
  5. There is one that have a coins.

Write a comment below with all the mistakes you can find and I will tell you if you are right!

Downloadable PDF file: Can you spot all the mistakes?

 

English for Gamers – Episode 0

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As I told you previously, the intro is out :-). I hope you will like it:

This is the first video in English on Richard’s channel, that’s why we are speaking both English and Italian, but from tomorrow on, Italian will be banned ;-).

New project: English for gamers

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Hi guys! I have a new project and I hope you will like it. A few months ago I started working with Richard. He is a gamer and he already has a youtube channel (Richard Retro). Until now he has been “posting in Italian”, but he wants to “grow”. I don’t have a youtube channel yet, so I decided to collaborate with him. We both believe in learning by having fun and we do get along well. At the beginning, it was a bit weird for me since it was the first time. We haven’t posted anything yet, we will probably publish the intro on Monday.

From the show’s name (English for Gamers), you can understand a bit what we will be doing and talking about ;-). Richard will teach me how to play retro games (like Super Mario Bros, Street Fighters, etc.) and I will try to help him improving his English. I must tell you that he’s not so bad at speaking English (which is not so common for Italian people), but I didn’t know it before starting to film the episodes ahahhah. Speaking about me … I must recognise that I am really bad at playing these games. When I was a kid I was always playing with my brother and I was good at it, but I forgot everything :-(. Because of it, I think the show will be fun to watch :-). We will probably be posting the videos on Tuesday, then I will create some fill in the gaps exercises and vocabulary lists based on each episode.

I ask you guys to tell us what you think about the show (pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee) and if you have any suggestions for what game to play, share them with us. In this way, we will be able to improve. It’s something new for us, so you will see that we are a bit nervous in the intro and in the first episode (we kind of didn’t know each other before starting filming), I move a lot! ahhahaha By the way, the second one is better ;-). We are both from Italy but we come from different cities. Of course, you will hear our accents. Since we are playing games, we can’t cut the videos, so when we make mistakes there’s no way to hide them (lol). I am a teacher, that’s why this is particularly bad for me ahhahaha. You know … We film everything, then he does the editing part, after that I have to create something out of it to help people improving their English. And imagine … of course, while doing that I will realize that I pronounced something in a strange way or I made a strange facial expression. It didn’t happen often, but it did happen for sure grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. What can I say … Forgive me for my mistakes … I promise I will point them out ;-). I can tell you that I am sure you’ll laugh a lot, at least, it won’t be boring.

You can follow both of us on Instagram:
richard_retro
free_english_mfy

I must thank Sara (Richard’s girlfriend) for helping us with the project :-). She’s the one taking photos and filming everything, she’s amazing.

I’ll keep you updated 😉

Have a nice weekend!

Anna

 

 

“Awful” – What does it mean?

Published on by Anna3 Comments

meaning of awful - English Vocabulary - Free English Materials For You.jpg

Image source

More example sentences from the web:

  • I feel like something awful will happen.

  • I’m an awful person and a really awful doctor.

  • They heard an awful sound.

Visual thesaurus of this term:

visual thesaurus - synonyms of awful

Image source

awful example sentence.jpg

Image source

“Awful” in the news: 

“Saskatchewan man feels awful about historic bridge he set on fire“

A song containing this term: Awful – Never Shout Never 

One, two, three, four
It’s an awful way to feel,
You feel so low like you can’t go on
But don’t you fear my dear,
You’re the only thing that keeps me feeling
Anything at all
Close your eyes and ease your troubled mind
Ah ah ah ah
Sometimes in the middle of the night
I wake up and roll out of bed
And wonder why I even woke up in the first place
It’s so awful
Then to make the matters even worse
I swear my love I have a curse
I can’t do anything quite right
I swear I’m trying
It’s so awful
I’m awfully awful
Today
It’s a complex sort of thing
The type of thing that I don’t like to
Sing with all my heart
Emotions fade the nightmares start
And I can’t waste my time
I close my eyes and ease my troubled mind
Ah ah ah ah
Sometimes in the middle of the night
I wake up and roll out of bed
And wonder why I even woke up in the first place
It’s so awful
Then to make the matters even worse
I swear my love I have a curse
I can’t do anything quite right
I swear I’m trying
It’s so awful
I’m awfully awfully awful
Today

I’m waking up for the first time
Since I lost track of my ways
I took my last pill last night
I’m waking up for the first time
The last time
Ah ah ah ah

Sometimes in the middle of the night
I wake up and roll out of bed
And wonder why I even woke up in the first place
It’s so awful
Then to make the matters even worse
I swear my love I have a curse
I can’t do anything quite right
I swear I’m trying
It’s so awful
I’m awfully awfully awfully awful
Today