Tag: Learn 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:

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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:

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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:

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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

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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/

 

“Truce” – What does it mean?

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truce meaning - English vocabulary - Free English Materials For You - femfy.jpg

Example sentences from the web:

TO BREAK A TRUCE => To start fighting again breaking a previous agreement of peace.

“To juggle” – What does it mean?

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To juggle meaning - Englishvocabulary - Free English Materials For You (2).jpg

Image 1 source; image 2 source

Example sentences from the web:

  • Many parents find it hard to juggle children and career. (meaning 2)
  • Charles juggled five tangerines! (meaning 1)
  • Mark learnt to juggle five balls at once. (meaning 1)
  • Sarah was hired as an administrator for her ability to juggle many tasks at once. (meaning 2)

 

Burning Millions’ Worth of Illegal Ivory

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I suggest that you read the vocabulary list before watching the video ;-):

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fajplusenglish%2Fvideos%2F725281944279982%2F&show_text=0&width=560

VOCABULARY

TUSK => a very long, large tooth that sticks out of the mouth of an animal (such as an elephant, walrus, or boar)

tusk.jpg
TO GO UP IN SMOKE => to burn up completely

to go up in smoke meaning.jpg

Image source

STOCKPILE => a large supply of something that is kept for future use

stockpile meaning.jpg
TO TORCH => to set fire to (something, such as a building) deliberately : to cause (something) to burn
TRADE => the activity or process of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or services
STUNT => something that is done to get attention or publicity
TO BAN => to forbid, to prohibit; to say that something cannot be used or done
TO POACH => to hunt or fish illegally

“To wonder” – What does it mean?

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To wonder - English Vocabulary - Free English Materials For You.jpg

Example sentences from the web:

  • I wonder what she can do to help her husband.
  • I wonder why I said that.
  • We were wondering where the bride went.

synonyms of to wonder - free english materials for you.png

To wonder in the news:

Behind the news: http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4183263.htm

First part of the transcript:

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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

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.

 

“You snooze, you lose.” – English proverb

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If you snooze, you lose. - English Proverb - Free English Materials For You.jpg

Image source

Example sentences from the web:

  • John: Hey! I wanted a glass of milk too!
    Sarah: It’s too late. You snooze, you lose.
  • Isabel: Mark is so selfish, he knew I wanted to go to the show, but yesterday he bought the last ticket for himself.
    Cristina: If it was so important, why didn’t you buy the ticket before? You snooze, you lose.

you-snooze-you-lose- Learning English Proverbs.png

Image source

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?