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Visão | A Elizabeth Line já tem data de abertura e promete acelerar (e muito) a forma como se viaja em Londres. Estas são as imagens da nova linha

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A abertura parcial da linha será já em maio deste ano. Uma viagem que antes demorava, por exemplo, mais de uma hora, vai demorar apenas 45 minutos, poupando tempo aos passageiros

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March 2021: Probably by Georges Michel, 'Stormy Landscape with Ruins on a Plain', possibly 1830s

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Some days learning a language can be a real struggle, but these beautiful inspirational quotes will keep you motivated.

Learning a foreign language is an emotional roller coaster mixed with amazing highs, frustrating plateaus, and the feeling like you're not making any progress at all. It's so easy to become discouraged and want to throw in the towel which is why I've collated a list of inspiring language quotes from history's great linguistics and authors as well as beautiful proverbs that will give you a much-needed boost of morale.

Here are 42 of the best inspirational quotes that will keep us languages learners motivated.

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1. Language comes first. It's not that language grows out of consciousness, if you haven't got language, you can't be conscious. - Alan Moore

2. Do you know what a foreign accent is? It's a sign of bravery. - Amy Chua

3. Learn a language, and you'll avoid a war. - Arab Proverb

4. It is astonishing how much enjoyment one can get out of a language that one understands imperfectly. - Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve

5. Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about. - Benjamin Lee Whorf

6. To have another language is to possess a second soul. ‒ Charlemagne

7. Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. - Chinese Proverb

8. To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world. - Chinese Proverb

9. You live a new life for every new language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once. ‒ Czech Proverb

10. Learn a new language and get a new soul. - Czech Proverb

11. With languages, you are at home anywhere. - Edward De Waal

12. I love commuting between languages just like I love commuting between cultures and cities. - Elif Safak

13. A different language is a different vision of life. - Federico Fellini

14. Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things. ‒ Flora Lewis

15. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club - the community of speakers of that language. ‒ Frank Smith

16. One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way. ‒ Frank Smith

17. Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club - the community of speakers of that language. ‒Frank Smith

18. A man who knows two languages is worth two men. ‒ French Proverb

19. A special kind of beauty exists which is born in language, of language, and for language. ‒ Gaston Bachelard

20. You can never understand one language until you understand at least two. ‒ Geoffrey Willans

21. A foreign language is like a frail, delicate muscle. If you do not use it, it weakens. - Jhumpa Lahiri

22. He who knows no foreign languages know nothing of his own. ‒ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

23. The most intimate temper of a people, its deepest soul, is above all in its language. - Jules Michelet

24. Change your language and you change your thoughts. ‒ Karl Albrecht

25. We should learn languages because language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly. - Kató Lomb

26. If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world. ‒ Ludwig Wittgenstein

27. The limits of my language are the limits of my world. ‒ Ludwig Wittgenstein

28. The joy of knowing a foreign language is inexpressible. I find it really difficult to express such joy in my mother tongue. ― Munia Khan

29. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart. ‒ Nelson Mandela

30. Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow. ‒ Oliver Wendell Holmes

31. A new language is a new life. - Persian Proverb

32. Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going. ‒ Rita Mae Brown

33. Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom. ‒ Roger Bacon

34. The conquest of learning is achieved through the knowledge of languages. - Roger Bacon

36. I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations. - Samuel Johnson

37. Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can; there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did. ‒ Sarah Caldwell

38. One who speaks only one language is one person, but one who speaks two languages is two people. ‒ Turkish proverb

39. The man who does not know other languages, unless he is a man of genius, necessarily has deficiencies in his ideas. - Victor Hugo

40. Language is wine upon the lips. - Virginia Woolf

41. Language is to the mind more than light is to the eye. - William Gibson

42. As a hawk flieth not high with one wing, even so a man reacheth not to excellence with one tongue. - Roger Ascham

If you enjoyed these words, then let wordsmiths Stephen King, Mark Twain and the Dalai Lama transport you around the world with these Inspirational Travel Quotes. Want more? Add these beautiful foreign words into your repertoire.

Want to know more about learning languages? Start here!

Over to you!

Which one of these language quotes did you love the most? Do you know any others?
Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.
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42 Awesome Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners | The Intrepid Guide

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Learning a foreign language is an emotional roller coaster mixed with amazing highs, frustrating plateaus, and the feeling like you're not making any progress at all. It's so easy to become discouraged and want to throw in the towel which is why I've collated a list of inspiring language quotes from history's great linguistics and authors as well as beautiful proverbs that will give you a much-needed boost of morale.

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Nestes tempos de clausura, muitos de nós deparamo-nos com a satisfação de descobrir a importância das coisas simples. Com o mundo em modo distópico, um raio de sol, o correr da água, a cor de uma rosa, o afago de um cão, podem ser transformados num poema épico de resgate das coisas boas da vida. Perante a cidade que se tornou estranha, habitada por tempos fantasmagóricos e gente a quem as máscaras roubam a capacidade de sorrir, o campo, com o seu jeito de eternidade imutável, surge como o refúgio dos dias em que sabíamos onde estávamos.

O fotógrafo Alfredo Cunha pontuou as idas aos cenários da pandemia com o registar de imagens do seu quotidiano. Como à procura de um remédio que nos permita limpar o olhar de tanto sofrimento. David Pontes

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Nestes tempos de clausura, muitos de nós deparamo-nos com a satisfação de descobrir a importância das coisas simples. Com o mundo em modo distópico, um raio de sol, o correr da água, a cor de uma rosa, o afago de um cão, podem ser transformados num poema épico de resgate das coisas boas da vida.

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Você conhece o amor russo ao mar? Não?! Então confira nossa seleção das pinturas marinhas russas mais emocionantes de todos os tempos!

1. Ivan Aivazóvski, "A nona onda" (1850)

2. Mikhaíl Satárov, "As velas douradas" (2009)

3. Aleksêi Bogoliubov. "Veneza à noite" (1850)

4. Geórgui Dmitriev. "Lua e ondas" (2014)

5. Ivan Aivazóvski, "Arco-íris" (1873)

6. Aleksandr Beggrov. "No deque da fragata 'Svetlana'" (1884)

7. Lev Lagorio. "Paisagem do Norte" (1872)

8. Ivan Aivazóvski. "Batalha de Sinop" (1853)

9. Andrêi Luzguin, "No porto silencioso" (2018)

10. Ivan Aivazóvski. "Vista da lagoa veneziana" (1841)

11. Rufin Sudkovski. "A beira do mar" (1882)

12. Lev Lagorio. "Ilha Lofoten" (1895)

13. Geórgui Dmitriev. "Onda e sol" 2016)

14. Rufin Sudkovski. "Píer de Odessa" (1885)

15. Ivan Aivazóvski. "Baía de Nápoles", (1841)

16. Geórgui Dmitriev. "Relâmpago" (2013)

17. Ivan Aivazóvski. "Batalha de Navarino" (1848)

18. Geórgui Dmitriev. "Nascer do sol no mar da China Meridional" (2015)

19. Ivan Aivazóvski. "Caos" (1841)

20. Geórgui Dmitriev. "Dia quente ao mar" (2015)
LEIA TAMBÉM: Terror nos mares: como piratas estrangeiros ajudaram os tsares russos
Autorizamos a reprodução de todos os nossos textos sob a condição de que se publique juntamente o link ativo para o original do Russia Beyond.

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20 obras de arte marinhas russas de tirar o fôlego!

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Você conhece o amor russo ao mar? Não?! Então confira nossa seleção das pinturas marinhas russas mais emocionantes de todos os tempos! 1. Ivan Aivazóvski, "A nona onda" (1850) 2. Mikhaíl Satárov, "As velas douradas" (2009) 3. Aleksêi Bogoliubov. "Veneza à noite" (1850) 4. Geórgui Dmitriev. "Lua e ondas" (2014) 5.

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Incrível - Inspiração. Criatividade. Admiração.

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Em determinada ocasião, quando o fotógrafo libanês Eli Rezkallah, de 31 anos, participava do jantar de Natal com sua família, ouviu seus tios falando sobre como as mulheres poderiam executar melhor suas tarefas: limpar e cozinhar. O fato o inspirou a recriar peças publicitárias dos anos 1940, 1950 e 1960, trocando mulheres e homens de posição. "Sei que nem todos os homens são como meus parentes, mas fiquei surpreso em ver que opiniões como as deles ainda existem. Foi por isso que preparei o projeto, para que eles possam provar do próprio veneno sexista".

A seguir, o Incrível.club mostra as fotos do projeto "Mundo paralelo", que reflete as mudanças ocorridas na sociedade nas últimas décadas. E nós esperamos que o estereótipo segundo o qual "lugar de mulher é na cozinha" fique num passado distante e nem ouse reaparecer.

Gravatas Van Heusen

"Mostre que o mundo é dos homens"

Café Chase and Sanborn, década de 1950

"Se um dia seu marido descobrir que você não confere o frescor do café antes de comprar..."

Cerveja Schlitz

"Não se preocupe, amor, você não queimou a cerveja!"

Rede de restaurantes fast food Hardee's

"As mulheres não saem da cozinha!"

Calças Mr. Leggs, 1962

"É bom ter uma garota em casa"

Meias-calça da Chemstrand Nylon, década de 1940

Detergente Lux, 1956

"Saia da cozinha o quanto antes!"

Aspiradores Hoover, década de 1950

"Na manhã de Natal, ela ficará mais feliz com um Hoover"

Ketchup da Alcoa Aluminium, década de 1950

"Quer dizer que até uma mulher consegue abrir?"

Eli Rezkallah começou a trabalhar aos 16 anos como produtor de ensaios de moda, e depois como diretor criativo de desfiles. Hoje, ele se dedica à fotografia comercial e é o responsável pela revista Plastik Magazine.

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Fotógrafo recria propagandas machistas dos anos 50

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Em determinada ocasião, quando o fotógrafo libanês Eli Rezkallah, de 31 anos, participava do jantar de Natal com sua família, ouviu seus tios falando sobre como as mulheres poderiam executar melhor suas tarefas: limpar e cozinhar. O fato o inspirou a recriar peças publicitárias dos anos 1940, 1950 e 1960, trocando mulheres e homens de posição.

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It is an etwinning project book which is created by partner schools from Turkey, Spain, Portugal and France.

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The winners of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest has just been announced, showcasing incredible scenes of nature and human life around the world. Each spectacular photo was chosen from a pool of thousands of global entries across three categories- Nature, Cities, and People.

The grand prize of $7,500 went to Weimin Chu for his stunning Winter in Greenland image. Depicting a fishing village in Upernavik, it reveals tiny colorful homes dotted amongst the snow and fog. "It felt so harmonious. The whole land was covered by white, cold snow, and the blue tint at dusk made it even cooler. But the light from the windows, street lights and the family of three made the world warm again," says Chu. "I love the contrast and mood of this scene. I was busy taking continuous pictures at that time, trying to capture the best moment."

Other standout entries include Huaifeng Li's Showtime image, which won 1st Place in the People category. The beautifully atmospheric image captures actors preparing for an evening opera performance in Licheng County, China. Winning 1st Place in the Nature category, Tamara Blazquez Haik's photograph of a griffon vulture-titled Tender Eyes- is perfectly timed, capturing the majestic moment it soars through the skies in Monfragüe National Park in Spain.

Scroll down to check out more of the winning images and check out the National Geographic website for how to enter next year's competition.

National Geographic has just announced the winners of the 2019 Travel Photo Contest, revealing a glimpse into the incredible beauty of our world.

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by National Geographic.

Related Articles:

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Amazing Winners of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

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The winners of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest has just been announced, showcasing incredible scenes of nature and human life around the world. Each spectacular photo was chosen from a pool of thousands of global entries across three categories- Nature, Cities, and People.

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Click here to check what time the event starts in your timezone.

Attendee slots are limited; please click the free Register Now button! You will receive an email with details on how to join the webinar prior to the event start time.

If you know of someone interested in IEW, please pass this webinar information on to them.

Click here for more information on our webinars.

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Many children (and some adults) have difficulty learning to spell, but the difficulty may not be with the student so much as with the method of presentation. Find out in this workshop how spelling information is most efficiently stored in the brain, and why.

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In the Venn diagram of storytelling methods, the commencement speech is part poetry, part cat poster. The best commencement speeches transcend the limitations of the genre to provide inspiration for all of us. Below, read 10 great commencement speeches by writers and artists on how to live with more creativity and courage.
Bill Watterson, Kenyon College 1990
With all due respect to John Stuart Mill, maybe utilitarianism is overrated.

If I've learned one thing from being a cartoonist, it's how important playing is to creativity and happiness...At school, new ideas are thrust at you every day. Out in the world, you'll have to find the inner motivation to search for new ideas on your own. With any luck at all, you'll never need to take an idea and squeeze a punchline out of it, but as bright, creative people, you'll be called upon to generate ideas and solutions all your lives. Letting your mind play is the best way to solve problems.

For me, it's been liberating to put myself in the mind of a fictitious six year-old each day, and rediscover my own curiosity. I've been amazed at how one ideas leads to others if I allow my mind to play and wander. I know a lot about dinosaurs now, and the information has helped me out of quite a few deadlines.

A playful mind is inquisitive, and learning is fun. If you indulge your natural curiosity and retain a sense of fun in new experience, I think you'll find it functions as a sort of shock absorber for the bumpy road ahead.
David Carr, University of California at Berkeley School of Journalism 2014
Don't let anybody tell you that you should have been involved back in the day, the so-called "Golden Age." Paul's right: It wasn't all that golden. It wasn't. A lot of those stories sucked.

Right now, you have access to all-known thought about everything you're going to cover the minute you step up to it. We never had that. We had some guy named Morty who worked in obits who might know a little something about a little something.

On top of that, a bunch of old, crusty white guys who looked a lot and talked a lot like me, they decided what the news was. It's not really up to us anymore. It's up to you. It's up to your audience.
Ed Helms, Knox College 2013
There are infinite definitions for a successful life. Maybe you want to be the president, maybe you want be a great parent, or maybe you want to pretend to rip your tooth out and marry a stripper in a movie. All equally noble choices.

But simply asking ourselves what we want is easy. Another far more powerful question that can be much harder to explore, but has the potential to bring you breathtaking clarity, is simply: What do I fear?

Success lies in the tension between fear and discovery. That tension will always be there, but so long as your desire to explore is greater than your desire to not screw up, you're on the right track.
Maya Angelou, Holton-Arms School, 2011
There are ways in which you can develop courage. One way is to speak to people. Speak to people you don't know. Say good morning, good morning. You have no idea what you may have done for someone. She may have just hung up the phone from having a nurse say, "Miss Jones, the doctor wants you to come back in, he's not satisfied with these X-rays." You don't know.
Neil Gaiman, the University of the Arts, 2012
Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong, in life and in love and in business and in friendship and in health and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And when things get tough, this is what you should do.

Make good art.

I'm serious. Husband runs off with a politician? Make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by mutated boa constrictor? Make good art. IRS on your trail? Make good art. Cat exploded? Make good art. Somebody on the Internet thinks what you do is stupid or evil or it's all been done before? Make good art. Probably things will work out somehow, and eventually time will take the sting away, but that doesn't matter. Do what only you do best. Make good art.
Shonda Rimes, Dartmouth College 2014
Focus on something outside yourself.

Devote a slice of your energies towards making the world suck less every week. Some people suggest doing this will increase your sense of well-being. Some say it's good karma.

I say that it will allow you to remember that, whether you are a legacy or the first in your family to go to college, the air you are breathing right now is rare air. Appreciate it.
Adam Savage, Sarah Lawrence College 2012
Raymond Chandler didn't write a single word of any consequence until his 40s. Julia Child learned to cook at 40! Clint Eastwood directed his first film at 41. Don't be afraid to be a late bloomer. Repeatedly.

Remember that you have time to figure out what you want to do. Who you need to be. Where you want to go. You have time to fail. You have time to mess up. You have time to try again. And when you mess that up, you still have time. Just so long as you're willing to work hard.
Anna Quindlen, Villanova University 2000
Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work. Each time you look at your diploma, remember that you are still a student, still learning how to best treasure your connection to others. Pick up the phone. Send an email. Write a letter. Kiss your Mom. Hug your Dad. Get a life in which you are generous.
Margaret Atwood, the University Of Toronto 1983
Nor did anyone have the foresight to inform me that the best thing I could do for myself as a writer would be back and wrist exercises. No one has yet done a study of this, but they will, and when they start excavating and measuring the spines and arm bones of the skeletons of famous writers of the past I am sure they will find that those who wrote the longest novels, such as Dickens and Melville, also had the thickest wrists.
George Saunders, Syracuse University 2013
Do all the other things, the ambitious things - travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim naked in wild jungle rivers (after first having it tested for monkey poop) - but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness. Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality - your soul, if you will - is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Shakespeare's, bright as Gandhi's, bright as Mother Teresa's. Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly.

And someday, in 80 years, when you're 100, and I'm 134, and we're both so kind and loving we're nearly unbearable, drop me a line, let me know how your life has been. I hope you will say: It has been so wonderful.

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10 inspiring commencement speeches about creativity and courage

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In the Venn diagram of storytelling methods, the commencement speech is part poetry, part cat poster. The best commencement speeches transcend the limitations of the genre to provide inspiration for all of us. Below, read 10 great commencement speeches by writers and artists on how to live with more creativity and courage.

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We have gotten it wrong, really wrong, in the language classroom. Historically, the teacher stood at the front of the classroom spouting details of grammar. Students sat at desks placed in straight rows directed toward the teacher and madly took notes. They later filled out worksheets and tried to memorize the content presented by the all-knowing educator. And this is still often the scenario today.

What's missing? Students are not allowed to focus on the one aspect of learning a language that intrigues them -- the speaking. So much time is spent teaching students about the language that they rarely have time to use it in a genuine way. The result is that most students decide to stop studying a foreign language once they realize they're not actually achieving their goal of speaking it.

The first step toward teaching students to speak a language well is understanding proficiency. Great language teachers comprehend proficiency levels and teach their students about them. Once proficiency is the central focus in the classroom, grammar no longer reigns -- communication does. Spending time in the classroom on all modes of communication -- interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational -- is essential, but interpersonal communication should be the main emphasis. To achieve this, the teacher must get out of the way.

If the teacher is always speaking, the students are not. For students to achieve the communicative practice they need, the solution is simple: The less the teacher speaks, the more students do.

Through classroom observation, I have seen that some teachers are much more comfortable letting their students take center stage than others. And I have concluded that those teachers who are most comfortable with student-centered classrooms see the greatest linguistic results, have less attrition from one level to the next, and have more students who are engaged and happy.

Strategies for Focusing on Student Proficiency

Begin each day with an interpersonal speaking activity.

Require students to use the target language in class.

Eliminate activities in which you ask individual students questions. Instead, promote pair work -- larger groups mean that individual students speak and negotiate meaning less. (Carefully consider the pairs: Putting an A student with a D student will frustrate them both, and putting close friends together will likely cause a distraction.)

Broach interesting topics that allow students to use the vocabulary they are learning or have learned previously.

Make your presence known. Constantly walk around the classroom, mentoring as you go.

Spend time modeling what you want your students to do, but don't overdo it. For example, specifying verb tenses and vocabulary that must be used during their exchanges will quickly make an authentic activity inauthentic.

Become comfortable with organized chaos. Students may not use the tenses you had hoped, they may make up words, and they may even throw in English words here and there, but this is perfectly normal and part of the language acquisition process.

5 Interpersonal Activities to Get You Started

Speed dating: It sounds risqué but only entails lining up desks in rows facing each other. Use a website like Wheel Decide to change topics every two to five minutes. The students in one row remain in their seats, and the ones facing them move every time the time expires. Every few minutes, new pairs have a conversation.

Poster making: Throw out a question related to your unit, such as "What do you do to get ready for school?" Have students working in pairs use a website such as Canva or Easel.ly to create posters answering the question. Next, have them present their posters to the class.

Pail of prompts: Make slips of papers with different scenarios related to your unit. Have students draw them out of a pail and practice a conversation on the topic. Next, have each group go to the front of the room and talk about their topic for one or two minutes. Set a timer and have them talk until the time runs out.

Silent exchanges: Give students working in pairs a topic related to the current unit. Have each pair create a Google document that they share with each other and with you. Each pair has a written conversation on the topic. The teacher can monitor the conversations and give feedback via the Google doc. This allows students valuable interpersonal writing practice before they move on to the more high-pressure exercise of interpersonal speaking. Once they have practiced the conversation in silence, have them read it out loud.

First Five Fridays: Assign each student in your class a Friday or two during the school year when he or she has to direct a conversation for the first five minutes of class. During this time, he or she can broach any (appropriate) topic. Students are responsible for making sure the conversation stays alive for the entire five minutes.

These are just a few activities you can use to get students talking in class. If you've used any others, please share them in the comments section.

A special thank you goes out to Greg Duncan and Sabrina Huang for inspiring aspects of these activities.

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In Language Classrooms, Students Should Be Talking | Edutopia

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We have gotten it wrong, really wrong, in the language classroom. Historically, the teacher stood at the front of the classroom spouting details of grammar. Students sat at desks placed in straight rows directed toward the teacher and madly took notes. They later filled out worksheets and tried to memorize the content presented by the all-knowing educator.

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People often ask me how I go about learning a language. Sure, communication with speakers of my target language plays an obvious and significant role, but studying on my own is also vital. One needs some quiet time in order to learn and understand the grammar and vocabulary before they are practiced in real-world situations. So how can you study alone as effectively as possible? The answer is to redefine your leisure time.

For many of us, leisure time no longer means recuperating from a week's physical labor. Spending 40 hours a week in an office means we want to be out and active and engaged in our free time: pursuing sporting activities and remaining fit, or indulging in other kinds of self-improvement. With technological advances, more and more companies and products are catering to the desire for staying in shape, both mentally and physically. In this landscape of ever-evolving demands and modes of supply, how can one ensure the most effective and lasting gains? Here are my 7 top takeaway tips from a workshop I did in San Francisco to address this very question:

Tip 1: Make a plan

Set aside time to learn every day - even if it's only ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes in the afternoon and ten minutes before bed. It's somewhat tedious at the beginning, as there's always the nagging desire to jump straight into the language and get learning. You'll save yourself loads of time if you plan your process and note milestones and potential rewards on the road ahead.

Tip 2: Organize your time

We often don't realize that we actually have much more free time than we think. We say things like, "I'm already so busy. How can I possibly find time to learn?", but even the busiest schedules have pockets of wasted time that can be spent exposing yourself to the language you are learning. You don't need to spend six hours a day interrogating grammar books under a bright desk lamp. The intensity of your learning schedule can ebb and flow. Make things flexible, be aware of the time you actually have and organize it according to your language journey.

Tip 3: Keep it regular

Make sure you dedicate some time every day to language learning. This is really important - not only will you make progress every single day, and enjoy the feeling of achievement that comes with that, but you'll also actually retain what you've learned. If you learn ten new words on Monday, review them on Tuesday for a few minutes, then learn ten more, and review those on Wednesday... slowly but surely the information will stick in your head, and you'll feel much more comfortable using it. Don't let this routine slip! Even if it's only an online lesson over breakfast, or a podcast on the way to work, maintaining and sustaining a connection to the language is vital!

Tip 4: Make it fun

Variety is the spice of life. You don't limit the way you receive information in your native language, so why limit it in another language? Dive into the diverse world of the language you want to learn: watch your favorite sports team with the commentary in your target language; listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks; watch foreign films with subtitles; surf the web in the language... Anything you can do in English can be done in another language too.

It doesn't matter if you don't understand things immediately. After a couple weeks of supplementing your studies with the activities above, your ear will be better tuned, and some of the things you hear will start making sense.

Tip 5: Try it out, make it stick

There is no point in learning a language if you're not going to use it. Find a way to put this language into practice because, if you don't use it, you are defeating your own objective to learn. Even if you are just speaking to yourself, it's better than not speaking at all. Go ahead, make mistakes - it doesn't matter because the name of the game is to use what you're learning. This is the best way to retain the information and become comfortable speaking. It's no use only having it in your head. When you put what you're learning into practice, you're using several different techniques at once: speaking, listening, getting immediate live feedback (which will usually be positive), and immersing yourself in the language and culture. Force yourself out of your comfort zone to reap the rewards.

Tip 6: Stay focused

Keep referring back to your initial plan and the objectives you set for yourself. Why are you learning a language again? Ah yes, of course, because you're splendid. But you still have to train for it like anything else, be it sport, music, a hobby or a new career path. If you put in the time, you will be able to do it. The more you believe in yourself, the more you remain focused. And it's brilliant: once you reach your goal you'll be able to speak another language. Everything will fall into place. It won't always be easy, but there's a bigger picture, so just go for it.

Tip 7: Reward yourself

It might sound a little bit indulgent, but you deserve it! When you stick to your plans and work towards that ultimate goal, there's nothing wrong with patting yourself on the back now and then. It takes hard work and commitment, so in order to stay focused pair your short-term goals with rewards that are linked to the language. You've earned these language skills, so why not enjoy them?

For more in-depth instruction on how to guide your own learning path, check out my 41 video lessons on independent learning methods, recorded at CreativeLive in San Francisco.

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How To Learn Spanish, German, French, Or Any Other Language On Your Own

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People often ask me how I go about learning a language. Sure, communication with speakers of my target language plays an obvious and significant role, but studying on my own is also vital. One needs some quiet time in order to learn and understand the grammar and vocabulary before they are practiced in real-world situations.

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Roughly 1.2 billion people worldwide are currently learning a foreign language. If you are one of them, this article is for you.

Whether you are learning to improve your job prospects, do better in school, get ready for a trip abroad or even just for fun, there are three common habits that all successful language learners share. We analyzed data from millions of Duolingo users and, in the process, discovered what it really takes to grasp a foreign tongue.

Learning a language is a lot like losing weight (sort of)

Some language-learning services claim to be so effective that you'll be fluent in weeks - or even overnight (yeah, right!). Others claim to make you fluent by passively listening. We are more realistic: science and personal experience indicate that most people need time to become proficient in a second language. So what does it take to be successful in the long run?

It might help to compare language-learning with losing weight and staying fit. Can you lose 50 pounds overnight? Fat chance. Over the course of several months? Much more realistic.

Just as you need exercise and a healthy diet to get fit, you need to develop a habit of regular study and review in order to stick with learning a language and succeed in the long run. And just as it's helpful to know what types of foods and exercises are best for staying healthy, it's important to know what types of learning habits are best for long-term language-learning success.

More than 150 million people across the world use Duolingo to learn languages, many of them with their phones and tablets during breaks and daily commutes. From these activities, we have gathered a tremendous amount of data about learning and behavior patterns. Here is some of what we have learned about the best habits for being a successful language learner.

Habit No. 1: weekends-only and 9-to-5 don't cut it

One of the best predictors of long-term success is doing something on a regular basis. Language learning is no different. In particular, Figure 1 shows that most people who stick with language learning in the long run make sure to spend a few minutes practicing every day or two. On the other hand, people who slip to every 5 or 6 days are much more likely to give up altogether. Figure 2 shows that successful learners also complete considerably more sessions per week, meaning they spend a good amount of time studying.

We also identified "clusters" of usage patterns, such as "weekenders" who only use the app on weekends, or "nine-to-fivers" who only study during the week during typical work hours. Figure 3 shows that people in these usage clusters exhibit lower language ability (in terms of a psychometric analysis called IRT) than people who use the app almost daily. What's more, people in a different cluster of users who study "daily, at bedtime" even seem to reach a slightly higher proficiency. This finding is consistent with laboratory research about the effect of sleep on improved language learning.

Especially when you are just starting out, it's worthwhile to develop a daily routine and study a few times a day to keep your memory fresh. Our data suggest that you're more likely both to stick with it and to learn more in the long run. And if you can make it a bedtime habit, even better!

Habit No. 2: don't binge study

The second habit of successful language learners is that they don't binge. Instead, they develop a habit of distributed practice, or a number of short study sessions over a longer period of time. To illustrate this, Figure 4 shows the variation (relative standard deviation) in the number of daily sessions. For successful learners, this variation is lower, which means they do a more consistent number of lessons and practice sessions every day. Higher variation, on the other hand, means users pop in every now and then for a marathon to play catch-up. These binge studiers are more likely to give up.

Many psychology studies have also shown that cramming material into a shorter time frame reduces learning, compared to distributed practice. This is true for all kinds of skills, from learning a language to throwing a ball, playing a video game or flying an airplane (see this article for a meta-analysis of decades of research on this topic). To master a language, you are better off studying a consistent amount - no matter how small - as regularly as possible. Bonus: You'll probably stick with it and learn more, too.

Habit No. 3: review, review, review

It can be tempting to plow ahead and learn as much new material as you can, especially when the experience of learning a language feels like a game. However, any student of a second language knows that you gradually forget what you learned over time (do you still remember the subjunctive mood you learned in high school Spanish?).

More than a century of psychology research on the so-called spacing effect and lag effect tells us that you are more likely to remember ideas and concepts if you regularly review old material. This helps the knowledge work its way from your short-term memory into your long-term memory.

Use "strength meters" to gauge when to practice old material.
But how do you know when to practice old material? When your language skills are at "full strength," you should focus on learning new things. The best time to review is when you're on the verge of forgetting, so if the meter for a previously learned skill drops to the halfway mark, it's time to practice it. We even show users which words are the weakest, and provide a one-click "Practice Weak Skills" button, which automagically finds the skills you need to practice the most.

Figures 5 shows that successful language learners strike a better balance between lessons (learning new material) and practice (reviewing older material) than the people who ultimately give up.

Our research team puts a lot of effort into our "spaced repetition" techniques, which aim to accurately measure how likely you are to remember a given word or grammar concept at any time. We published a scholarly article last year about a method we invented called half-life regression, and we continue to improve these techniques with new data every day. This technology helps us to help you review the right language concepts at just the right time.

So, there you have it: Study regularly, don't binge and review the concepts you are rusty on. Don't worry if it takes time; in fact, language learning should take time. ¡Buena suerte!

This article originally appeared in TechCrunch Japan.

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3 habits of successful language learners

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Roughly 1.2 billion people worldwide are currently learning a foreign language. If you are one of them, this article is for you. Whether you are learning to improve your job prospects, do better in school, get ready for a trip abroad or even just for fun, there are three common habits that all succ...

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This is an online brainstorming tool I made that generates random words. Simply pick the words from the random list that creatively inspire you.

This list of random words will help spark your creative imagination if you're looking to think up a domain name, a band name, a project name or whatever. This tool uses thousands of handpicked random nouns and verbs to maximize the possibility of creating interesting brainstorming ideas.

Right now the randomizer generates a list of 6 random words by default but you can change that to generate a word list of anywhere from two to ten words.

For band names and business projects, I find that setting the random word chooser to pick three or four words gives you an optimal list to work with.

If you're looking to start a website, I've also created a page with creative tools that helps you create blog names.

Once you click the generate button, the random words will appear just below the button. Have fun brainstorming. Be inspired.

Word Generator

I now also have a words generator that uses other languages to c the random list for brainstorming. This page has a random word chooser for random French words and another page for random German words.

Your Word List

Please note these words are not saved anywhere and will disappear when you leave this page. So if you like any of the randomly generated ideas in your list of random words then write them down somewhere.

More Free Tools to Check Out!

Trying to Think up Domain Names?

Read this article if you're looking to think up some good website names for your new domain. This page also features a random word tool for brainstorming ideas.

Language Versions

Random Word Generator is also available in German ( Zufallswort Generator), French ( Générateur de Mots Aléatoires) and Spanish ( Generador de Palabras Aleatorias).

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Random Word Generator - Creative online tool to generating random words for brainstorming.

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This is an online brainstorming tool I made that generates random words. Simply pick the words from the random list that creatively inspire you. This list of random words will help spark your creative imagination if you're looking to think up a domain name, a band name, a project name or whatever.

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English Dictation Exercises - dailydictation.com

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Learn and Practice English effectively through dictation exercises

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6 sites que ajudam a encontrar estrangeiros para praticar idioma

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Olá pessoal!
Se você gostaria de encontrar estrangeiros para praticar idioma, aproveite esta dica. Por meio de aplicativos de vídeo, imagem e voz disponibilizados por programas de chats do Google ou da Microsoft, a possibilidade de um intercâmbio linguístico entre nativos que vivem em diferentes pa

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This language-learning app features more than 3,000 words and expressions and covers a wide range of topics through comprehensive vocabulary sections and interactive tests.

2. SpeakingPal English Tutor

An interactive app, SpeakingPal offers exercises, dialog with a virtual character, role-playing, and a series of mini lessons. It comes with speech and language recognition and provides instant feedback to students.

3. C artoon- Free English

This one here helps learners learn new words through the use of a method called word cards. They use pictures to illustrate meaning.

4. Lingual.ly

Lingua.ly helps users learn multiple languages through games. It uses the classic snake game where users can snack on words! It comes with a smart dictionary which users can access on the go.

5. MyWordBook

This app was developed by the British Council in conjunction with Cambridge University Press and offers a wonderful, engaging way to learn new words through sets of interactive flashcards.

6. Grammar Up

Grammar is the foundation on which a language stands and it is therefore important to know how these rules influence language usage. With over 1800 grammar questions across 20 categories, Grammar Up helps students learn by choosing a specific topic.

7. Language Verb Trainer

This app as its name suggests helps learners improve their use and conjugation of verbs.

8. Conversation English

The app gives learners the option to read the conversation and then answer questions and complete a variety of exercises.

9. StudyMode

The app gives you access to papers on a broad variety of research topics, flashcards, essays, and critique of classics written by Hemingway, Shakespeare, Melville, etc. What's more, you can read book notes and AP notes for free.

10. Oxford Deluxe Dictionary and Thesaurus of English

It is probably one of the most expensive apps available for English learners, but there are none more comprehensive than this one. This app basically contains the complete Oxford Dictionary, plus the thesaurus, with the added audio feature. It's ideal for students who have the money to spend and don't want to carry a big, bulky dictionary around.

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10 Great Apps for English Language Learners and Teachers

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This language-learning app features more than 3,000 words and expressions and covers a wide range of topics through comprehensive vocabulary sections and interactive tests. 2. SpeakingPal English Tutor An interactive app, SpeakingPal offers exercises, dialog with a virtual character, role-playing, and a series of mini lessons.

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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Bright Side has prepared illustrations for you that won't test your math skills or ability to think outside the box. Instead, they'll challenge your observation skills.
Each of the following pictures has one inaccuracy in them. How quickly can you spot it?
1. A work desk

2. A fitting room

5. Children on a walk

7. A railroad

10. A skating rink

Illustrated by Yekaterina Ragozina for BrightSide.me

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Only the Most Attentive Will Notice What's Wrong With These 10 Pictures

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Bright Side has prepared illustrations for you that won't test your math skills or ability to think outside the box. Instead, they'll challenge your observation skills. Each of the following pictures has one inaccuracy in them. How quickly can you spot it?

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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Among the multitudes of photos of the past, there are some that show the history from a different perspective. The best of theses images can help you to imagine better than any book or movie what it was really like to live through that moment, now lost forever.

Bright Side has picked out 20 fascinating shots which fit this description perfectly. Take a look.

You have no chance of attracting her attention if your opponent is Alain Delon. Even if you're Mick Jagger.

Salvador Dali walking his pet anteater, 1969.

Osama bin Laden on vacation with his family, Sweden, 1970.

The fashion for hats, New York, 1939.

Alfred Hitchcock playing with his grandchildren, 1960.

Princeton University students after a snowball fight, 1893.

George Lucas and Steven Spielberg playing with water pistols, Sri Lanka, 1983.

A one-hundred-and-six-year-old Armenian woman defends her house, 1990.

A five-megabyte hard drive is shipped by IBM, 1956.

French women who have been accused of having affairs with German soldiers are stripped down to their underwear, some with heads shaved, as part of their public humiliation, 1944.

Nikola Tesla in his laboratory.

Ernest Hemingway after one of his parties.

Women protest against the forced wearing of the hijab in Iran after the Islamic Revolution, 1979.

The last photo of the Titanic before it sank, 1912.

Audrey Hepburn shopping with her pet fawn, Beverly Hills, 1958.

Dior models walking the streets of Moscow, 1956.

A Frenchman gives a light to Winston Churchill, 1944.

A smoking break during the construction of the RCA building, 1932.

Coca-Cola arrives in France, 1950.

The seal on the doors of the tomb of Tutankhamen, 1922. It had remained intact for an incredible 3,245 years.

Preview photo credit imgur

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20 Utterly Unique Historical Photographs You've Never Seen Before

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Among the multitudes of photos of the past, there are some that show the history from a different perspective. The best of theses images can help you to imagine better than any book or movie what it was really like to live through that moment, now lost forever.

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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The world is changing fast, and we are along with it. Unfortunately, not all of these changes are to our advantage.

Some people have expressed their concerns about where we're going through art. We picked 22 of the most pointed illustrations depicting some of the most serious problems our global society faces today.

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22 Illustrations Which Prove the World Is a Crazy Place

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The world is changing fast, and we are along with it. Unfortunately, not all of these changes are to our advantage. Some people have expressed their concerns about where we're going through art. We picked 22 of the most pointed illustrations depicting some of the most serious problems our global society faces today.

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30 Teacher Cartoons That'll Have You Laughing & Crying at the Same Time

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Marcus Owen was a full time school teacher for 20 years before going full-time into illustrating the misery he went through, during his noble career in education.

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Roleplaying is an effective tool for practicing conversational English in an unintimidating environment. Non-native English speakers often have difficulty communicating in various everyday scenarios. Learning English phrases and frequently asked questions will significantly improve a student's confidence when speaking. English teachers can utilize these 8 role play ideas during their online Skype English classes to familiarize students with the phrases and words often used in English-speaking countries.
1) Ordering food from a restaurant
Practice receiving a food order from your student. Ensure that he or she includes all the necessary aspects of ordering a meal. Examples include: asking the price of items, indicating order size, and specifying desired components of their order. Ask questions to help prompt your student to include all of the necessary information. Try to implement cultural phrases or questions such as "Is this for here or to go?" and "Cash or card?".
2) Speaking with a landlord or apartment office
This is a situation commonly encountered by English students living abroad. Questions about rent payments and appliance repairs are referred to an apartment office or landlord. Knowing the proper terminology to explain complicated situations can be tricky for non-native English speakers. Invite your student to practice inquiring about specific issues during online Skype English classes . Assume the role of landlord and help correct minor linguistic errors while also teaching relevant vocabulary.
3) Communicating with police officers
Encounters with officers of the law are common. It's important to be aware of proper etiquette and terms of respect when dealing with authority figures. Communicating with individuals in positions of authority can be daunting, but this skill is especially important as compliance to instruction is predicated on understanding. Therefore, it may be a good idea to let your student assume the role of police officer first. Give examples of proper responses and phrases used when addressing authority figures. Then change roles and let your student try. For online Skype English classes practice speaking in scenarios such as traffic stops, random public encounters, and even interrogations.
4) Department and grocery store shopping
When visiting a store of any kind, there are a few important questions that every shopper should be familiar with. "Where can I find (insert item)?", "Do you have any more (...) in stock?", "Can you tell me the price of (...)?", "What time do you close?" are all examples. Play the role of sales associate of a fictitious store and respond to questions posed by your student. If possible, use words that may not be familiar to the student.
5) Asking someone out on a date or casual outing
Having the ability to invite someone on a date or outing in such a way that prompts them to say "yes" is an invaluable skill. Even if the student never encounters this situation, practicing it provides great preparation for other potentially awkward instances.

During online Skype English classes let your student practice asking you if you have any plans on a specific date and if you'd be interested in accompanying them to an activity. Have fun with this role play scenario! The best way to get over initial awkward feelings is to laugh at oneself.
6) Meeting with an instructor outside of class
Instructors are another example of authority figures. However, unlike the law enforcement scenario mentioned earlier, casual language and friendly terms are often perfectly appropriate when speaking with teachers. In many countries, instructors are held in high regard. In fact, it is often considered disrespectful to attempt friendly conversation with one's teacher. This is not the case in most English-speaking countries. Help students become comfortable communicating and being open, yet respectful during online Skype English classes . Teach the dynamic of using casual language, while still respecting an individual's position.
7) Speaking with customer support
Lengthy calls with a company's customer support department can be aggravating. This process becomes more frustrating if the individuals communicating have trouble understanding one another. It is vital to emphasize the importance of clear pronunciation and concise statements when communicating via telephone. Invent a scenario and ask your student why he is calling. Follow a typical line of questioning, asking for descriptions and detailed information, until the issue is resolved.
8) Successfully negotiating a business deal
Even if the individual learning English is not involved in business, mastering this scenario is beneficial for numerous reasons. To conduct a successful business deal, one must have the right balance of charm, class, and forcefulness. In many ways, this is the ultimate crucible for a student learning English. Intricate sentences, advanced vocabulary, and intimate knowledge of one's field are all utilized when negotiating a deal. This role play scenario may be used multiple times over the course of a student's learning process. Create a scenario for online Skype English classes and gradually become a tougher sell as your student becomes more adept at speaking English.

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8 Role Play Ideas Perfect for Online Skype English Classes

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Roleplaying is an effective tool for practicing conversational English in an unintimidating environment. Non-native English speakers often have difficulty communicating in various everyday scenarios. Learning English phrases and frequently asked questions will significantly improve a student's confidence when speaking.

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Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips

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Welcome to Fluent in 3 Months (FI3M), a community and learning resource for language learners all around the world.

I'm Benny (Brendan) Lewis, a fun-loving Irish guy, a full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author.

Since 2003, I've become a fluent and confident speaker of seven languages. And I'm able to have confident conversations in many others.

I help people just like you to feel confident in speaking another language, even if they've only just started learning. My mission in life is giving people permission to make mistakes. The more mistakes you make, the faster you become a confident language learner.

Thousands of language learners have been successful with my approach. Here are just two examples:

"Benny rocks! I had to learn Tagalog in a handful of days, well enough for a live TV interview. I asked Benny for help, and his advice was invaluable. The interview was a huge success."
- Tim Ferriss

"Benny was enormously helpful in planning my year without English, especially in Spain. He has a lot of practical experience dealing with language learning from the learner's perspective. That means he knows what it's like to learn a new language and can deal with many of the practical challenges that come up. I'm confident I never would have attempted this project without Benny's help!"
- Scott Young

You can experience my practical approach to language learning for yourself by signing up to my free Speak in a Week email course. You can sign up here.

To delve even deeper, you can pick up a copy of my bestselling book ( from Amazon, or any other major retailer), or browse this website. If you are new here, I created an orientation page for you - click here to access it.

Benny's Book

My book, Fluent in 3 Months explains the fundamentals of my approach to language learning. It was published in 2014 by HarperCollins, and was an immediate #1 bestseller in several categories on Amazon US, Canada and UK.

I've been featured in numerous national media outlets, including The New York Times, Business Insider, Forbes, lifehacker, National Geographic and the BBC.

I've spoken at two TEDx conferences, and in 2013 I was named National Geographic's Traveler of the Year.

Benny's Story

I'm not gifted with languages. I don't have the "language gene" (if such a thing exists).

How do I know?

I struggled with languages for years.

At school, I spent 11 years studying Irish (Gaeilge) and 5 years studying German. Even after all this study, I still couldn't speak them.

By the time I reached my 20's I could still only speak English.

After college, I moved to Spain. "If I'm living in another country, I'll be sure to pick up the language," I reasoned. I spent six months in Spain. I took expensive language classes. I studied every day. I repeated the same words and phrases over and over.
But I still couldn't actually speak Spanish.
While in Spain, I met a guy who changed my life. He was at an international party, switching from one language to another as he moved between guests.

"How do you do it?" I asked.

He explained that to speak a language, you've just got to start speaking it. There's no magic, he said. You only need a willingness to make mistakes.

I tried his advice, and I've never looked back since.

Within six months, I was a confident Spanish speaker. I then moved to Italy, where I started speaking Italian.

I've since lived in the United States, France, Brazil, Ireland, Germany, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Belgium, the Netherlands, China and Taiwan. While living in these countries, I've used my techniques to become fluent in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Esperanto. I also speak Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch and Irish to a conversational level.

Learning languages has given me confidence in conversations, new friends and insight into other cultures. It's opened up new worlds for me. I set up this community so others can have the same experience.

Meet Benny

I'd love to meet you! You can learn my techniques face-to-face at one of my Fluent in 3 Months workshops.

Check my events page to see when I'll be visiting your city.

If you can't make it to any of these cities, fear not! This site has plenty of useful tips, tricks, encouraging stories that will make your language learning journey easier and more enjoyable. Click here to discover!
Lee este artículo en español aquí (Read this article in Spanish here).

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About Benny - Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips

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Welcome to Fluent in 3 Months (FI3M), a community and learning resource for language learners all around the world. I'm Benny (Brendan) Lewis, a fun-loving Irish guy, a full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Since 2003, I've become a fluent and confident speaker of seven languages.

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The gender wars of household chores: a feminist comic

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French comic artist Emma introduces the concept of the mental load. When a man expects his partner to ask him to do things, he is viewing her as the manager of their household chores

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Learn English online with an all-in-one self-study course from Anglo-Link.

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MPs and Peers in urgent call for a National Recovery Programme to revolutionise language skills in the UK | British Council

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Britain's dwindling language skills are a disaster for the country and must be recovered through concerted action led by the government and supported by us all, a group of MPs and Peers warns today. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages National Recovery Programme for Languages makes an economic, international relations and security case for a renewed focus on language learning in Britain.

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This versatile pre-writing or publishing tool is easy for young storytellers to use. Dozens of photos sorted into categories including culture, people, family and fun, serve as inspiration for prompts. Kids can tell stories using the in-app recording feature. Teachers can also create custom prompts with their own images and voice. Giving ELLs a safe space to tell stories about their lives and experiences validates their unique contributions to the class community.

Students can create impressive video slideshows using research resources built right into the app. They can capture screengrabs from an interactive map, safely search for images from the Web and access image archives from trusted sources like the Library of Congress. Kids put the slides in order, add text, music and narration, and then export the final project as a video file. Shadow Puppet Edu supports ELLs in developing academic vocabulary in both collaborative groups and independently. Students can use it to review new concepts, present research, track progress, explain their thinking and more.

Just as with the original Toontastic app, Toontastic 3D is a storytelling app that's inspired by puppetry, theater, and animation. It employs a "Story Arc" with five sequential scenes to guide story structure (setup, conflict, challenge, climax and resolution). Kids move characters around each scene as they record narration and dialogue. For ELLs, Toontastic 3D can be an invaluable tool for building writing skills or practicing story analysis. Students can storyboard a piece of original writing or a story they read in class, and then bring it to life with fun settings and quirky characters.

Students or teachers can create and share media projects that incorporate video, image, voice, or even drawings. Once posted, projects can be open to text, voice or video comments from a select group or from all VoiceThread members. It's a natural fit for a range of student presentations and projects such as explaining research or retelling a story with original artwork. Alternately, teachers can create a VoiceThread to solicit student commentary. For ELLs who sometimes are hesitant to speak up in class, VoiceThread gives them a chance to thoughtfully craft their presentations or comments and contribute their ideas with confidence.

This formidable tool is like a superhero version of PowerPoint. Users can import photos, PDF files, movies and more from many sources to use in a presentation. Students can learn how to present information using multiple forms of expression (images, text, video and audio) through digital technology. Students can edit the audio in their presentations, which gives ELLs a chance to self-assess and revise before presenting to their peers and teacher. Plus, allowing students to create multimedia presentations can take some of the focus off the speaking task, and can give creative, tech-savvy students a chance to shine.

Sutori
(Middle/High)

Sutori* is a tool for creating interactive timelines and stories. Students can craft multimedia projects with text, images, videos, "Did You Know" call-out boxes, click-to-reveal text links, and multiple-choice quiz questions. Sutori offers collaboration features, allowing students to co-create stories for group projects as well. Teachers and students can access pre-made stories and view or contribute to a collection of community submitted stories. Sutori is another great option for empowering ELLs to share their stories and knowledge without the stress of an oral presentation.
Erin Wilkey Oh is Executive Editor of Education Content for Common Sense, creator of Graphite, a free service for educators in search of the best apps, games and websites for learning. Tools included here have received high ratings on Graphite by educators and by the editorial staff at Common Sense. Go to Graphite to read full reviews of digital tools and how teachers use them for learning in class. *This post has been updated to include Sutori.

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7 Storytelling Apps That Get English Language Learners Talking | KQED

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This versatile pre-writing or publishing tool is easy for young storytellers to use. Dozens of photos sorted into categories including culture, people, family and fun, serve as inspiration for prompts. Kids can tell stories using the in-app recording feature. Teachers can also create custom prompts with their own images and voice.

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We have published a companion piece: " 8 Compelling Mini-Documentaries to Teach Close Reading and Critical Thinking Skills."

Ever want your students to slow down and notice details when they read - whether they're perusing a book, a poem, a map or a political cartoon? Young people often want to hurry up and make meaning via a quick skim or a cursory glance when a text can demand patience and focus.

Closely reading any text, whether written or visual, requires that students proceed more slowly and methodically, noticing details, making connections and asking questions. This takes practice. But it certainly helps when students want to read the text.

We've selected 10 photos from The Times that we've used previously in our weekly "What's Going On in This Picture?" and that have already successfully caught students' and teachers' attention. These are some of our most popular images - ones that may make viewers say "huh?" on first glance, but that spark enough curiosity to make them want to dig deeper. (Please Note: You can quickly learn the backstory about any of these photos by clicking the link in each caption that takes you to the original post, then scrolling down to find the "reveal.")

Below, we offer ideas from students and teachers who have engaged with these images for ways to use them, or images like them, to teach close reading and visual thinking skills.

1. Be Detectives: Looking closely can almost be like a game, Shirley Jackson, a teacher in Sydney, Australia, said:

I stumbled across your site while looking for alternate ideas. My class of 10-12-year-olds absolutely love the photos and the back story became a competition as to who could "see" the most, justify it and how close they were to the truth. Please don't stop this amazing resource as it keeps our students informed as well as visually aware.

Indeed, practicing visual thinking skills with these images can be fun and a quick activity, but it can also hone important skills that transfer to other texts. Making sense of intriguing images like these can be more like detective work than anything else: Careful attention to detail rewards the viewer with a "big picture" understanding.

2. Practice Regularly: Every Monday during the school year we post a photograph stripped of its caption and context, and ask students what they see going on in this picture. Hundreds of students participate every week from classrooms across the country and around the world - from elementary through high school, and even adult education E.S.L. classes - sharing their observations. Our partners at Visual Thinking Strategies moderate the discussion and encourage students to look even more closely for more details.

You can use our "What's Going On?" photos, or ones you select that relate to the content you are teaching, to help your students practice close reading.

3. Ask Open-Ended Questions: At the heart of the activity are the three deceptively simple open-ended questions that make up V.T.S.'s facilitation method. The goal? To help students notice details and make observations without leading them toward any conclusion or "right answer."

What's going on in this picture?

What do you see that makes you say that?

What more can you find?

Students then share what they see and comment on what other students notice.

4. Notice Details: For example, here is what Josh W. observed in the image above:

It appears in this picture that a man is trying not to drown in some kind of sewer, and he seems quite in danger because of the frightened look on his face. However, maybe it's some sort of public punishment because the police are just looking at him while driving by and then walking by, while random people to the left don't seem to care either. It also looks like the area he is in has been barred off, so maybe nobody is allowed to help him. The place seems to not be the richest place on earth, this area is quite worn down, and it seems Latin because of the writing on the police's shirt. It is also possible that he is seeking refuge from the police, but he has failed as they have found him.

5. Build on Others' Observations: Encourage students to comment on other students' observations to help them evaluate and link to other ideas. We try to do that in our Monday discussions by asking students to use the @ symbol. Here is what Summer wrote to Connor about the above photo:

@Connor: That flip is not effortless, there is pain in his facial expression, which leads me to believe the chaos in the background is not a natural disaster but the aftermath of warfare. My suppositions are supported by the young boy in a uniform nearby in the pic.

6. Adapt These Questions for All Subjects: Jennifer Bradley, a science teacher at Bentonville High School in Arkansas, told us how the practice of finding details to defend their interpretations of each photo improved students' academic skills in general, and their science skills in particular:

After practicing with "What's Going On in This Picture?" weekly, I started to see my students get much better at using evidence in their writing. For example, in their lab reports, they started to be much more detailed and to explain the context clues that led them to a conclusion.

In fact, the three simple questions at the heart of V.T.S.'s facilitation method can be adapted for close reading any text, whether in an English or a science classroom:

What do you notice going on in this chapter? In this diagram? Or in this political cartoon?

What details do you see that make you say that? What evidence supports your observations?

What more can you find in the text?

7. Expand Knowledge of the World: Teachers tell us that students enjoy the activity, and that it actually helps expand their knowledge of and curiosity about the world in addition to making them more visually literate. And students make connections between our "What's Going On?" photographs and what they're hearing in the news and learning about in school. After finding out the caption of the photo above, Cashel IMS wrote:

This picture and caption makes me think how tough it must be to be sent away to this facility alone, taken away from his parents, and be treated poorly in these conditions. Just because this little boy crossed the border, he should not be held captive. He is only seven years old and it was not his fault. If I were seven years old and I was held in this detention center, I would be very confused.

8. Start Conversations: Julia told us that she uses these photographs to help foster conversation in her adult E.S.L. education classes:

They are great conversation starters to get my class speaking in English. It also brings up new vocabulary words. Students often use their personal knowledge of the world to figure out what is happening in the photos. Some students may have an advantage when the photo is from their region of the world. Thanks!

9. Introduce New Ideas: On Tuesday mornings, we reveal the original caption of the photo and any relevant back story as well. Sometimes, we're fortunate to hear from the photographers themselves about what they were thinking when they took the shot. The activity, therefore, can transform from practicing visual thinking strategies to gaining a window into another place, time or perspective.

Additionally, many students return to comment on the image with new ideas and questions after reading the caption. Here is Evan K. IMS7 's follow-up response to this week's photo (above):

So my prediction was actually right... (Thank you Animal Planet.) But I find it interesting that something that I learned I could actually apply to my academics. I wonder if the ant can resist the fungus taking over its brain. I also wonder if this fungus could infect another insect or if it can mutate.

10. Experiment With Other Ways to Look Closely: V.T.S.'s three-question facilitation method isn't the only approach to getting students to practice visual thinking. The National Archives has developed a photograph analysis protocol for noticing people, objects and activities before making inferences.

The International Society for Technology in Education (PDF) and Edutopia both suggest multiple strategies for teaching visual literacy. And the University of Maryland has developed a visual literacy toolbox for helping students learn how to read images.

Many of the recommended approaches are very similar, and build on the principle that students should be encouraged to look closely at images without being told what to see. That concept is at the heart of why every Monday we ask students: What's going on in this picture? Join us next week!

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10 Intriguing Photographs to Teach Close Reading and Visual Thinking Skills

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We pair 10 photos from The Times that we've used in our weekly "What's Going On in This Picture?" with ideas from students and teachers for how you can use them, or images like them, to teach close reading and visual thinking skills.

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For Father's Day, 15 Images of Awesome Dads

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Spanning 100 years and eleven countries, these photos show the tenderness and love between fathers and their children.

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O projeto do youtuber americano Matt Bray começou em 2014, com um vídeo onde o jovem dançava uma coreografia gravada durante 100 dias seguidos. Em 2015, Matt Bray escolheu 100 lugares diferentes perto de Chicago, nos EUA, para realizar outra dança e, em 2016, andou por vários locais da América e dançou com 100 pessoas uma coreografia igual.

No último ano e meio, o youtuber viajou por 15 países de todo o mundo para continuar esta série de vídeos, mas de uma forma ainda maior. O jovem fez uma coreografia, dançou-a com mil pessoas e o resultado é um vídeo denominado 1000 People of Dance, publicado no seu canal de youtube, ProjectOneLife.

Ao som de Lean, da banda americana VHS Collection, Matt Bray vai dançando em ambientes diferentes: perto da Torre Eiffel, em Paris, ao lado de uma estação de metro em Londres ou numa sala de ballet, o vídeo mostra a beleza da diversidade, não só de lugares mas também de pessoas.

Matt Bray afirma que não houve nenhuma produção ou organização na realização deste vídeo e que o bom resultado tem a ver com os passos simples da coreografia e com o facto de várias pessoas terem acedido ao convite do youtuber com facilidade.

O objetivo do jovem era, explica, divertir-se a viajar pelo mundo e fazer as pessoas sorrir. O resultado foi este:

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Jovem faz a mesma coreografia com 1000 pessoas de todo o mundo. Este é o resultado

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O projeto do youtuber americano Matt Bray começou em 2014, com um vídeo onde o jovem dançava uma coreografia gravada durante 100 dias seguidos. Em 2015, Matt Bray escolheu 100 lugares diferentes perto de Chicago, nos EUA, para realizar outra dança e, em 2016, andou por vários locais da América e dançou com 100 pessoas uma coreografia igual.

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If I asked you what the hardest part of learning English was, how many of you would point out the relationship (or seeming lack of a relationship) between how English sounds and how it is written?
My social media feeds are full of jokes about English spelling, like the famous poem ' The Chaos ' by G. Nolst Trenite, which uses rhymes to point out that
"Blood and flood are not like food, Nor is mould like should and would."
Ahead of my forthcoming webinar Fun with Phonics next month, let's go back to basics with phonics and think about how it is relevant in the young learner's classroom.

What is phonics?

English is not spelt phonetically so reading and spelling in English can be challenging even for native speakers. Phonics is a system that was developed to help native speaking children learn to read in English. It involves linking the 44 sounds of English (phonemes) to the possible ways they can be spelt (graphemes). There are three main types of phonics: Analytic, Embedded and Synthetic.

Analytic phonics takes whole words and asks learners to analyse them. Students are taught to compare sound patterns, for example identifying what is the same about the words pet, purple and potato, or noticing the similarities between words with the same ending like book and cook.

Embedded phonics teaches phonics as and when it is needed. For example, if a student is having particular difficulties with a new word. It is not a systematic approach, and students are only taught what is needed so not all phonics elements are covered.

Synthetic phonics is the most widely used approach around the world. This is because it is the most effective. This method takes a systematic approach to phonics, teaching children to sound out words to 'decode' what they say, or blend sounds together to 'encode' them in their written form.

As Synthetic phonics is the most widely used, we will look at this further during the webinar.

Why does it matter to English language teachers?

As a native English speaker (and reader) I clearly remember receiving phonics instruction as I navigated English spelling. I remember working through levelled reading schemes in school, and reading with my Grandmother as she challenged me to find all the words in the newspaper with "oo" in them while we experimented with the sounds they make. More than 30 years on and phonics has become a buzzword in the English language classroom.

However, phonics doesn't just help children to associate the sounds and spelling of English. Through focusing on the sounds of English, young learners can develop confidence when they tackle new words. It can also help them to improve their spoken and written English and develop their learner autonomy. We'll be exploring this further in the webinar.

How can I teach phonics?

In 2018 there are plenty of great phonics-based reading schemes that can be used in our classrooms.

There are those such as Floppy's Phonics which is designed for the first language English speakers, but which is increasingly used in the second language classroom. Then there are schemes such as Oxford Phonics World which is developed specifically for learners of English. Phonics can also be seen embedded in young learners' coursebooks such as Family and Friends, where children learn phonics while they learn English.

Of course, having the right materials is only half of the battle. As with anything else in the classroom, success with phonics will also depend on how well you implement the ideas into your lessons. If you are new to phonics and you are interested in picking up a few hints and tips for your classroom, why not register for the webinar? I look forward to seeing you online!

Charlotte Rance is a freelance teacher trainer and educational consultant based in Brighton, UK. She has been working in the English Language Teaching industry for over a decade, and her key areas of interest are young learners and the use of stories and reading as a tool for language learning. Her main goal as a trainer is to provide practical advice and strategies that teachers can implement in their lessons.

Categories: Pre-school Children, Pronunciation, Young Learners | Tags: Charlotte Rance, Oxford phonics, Phonics, Pronunciation, Reading, Spelling, Teaching phonics, Very Young Learners, Young Learners | Permalink.

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Fun with Phonics | Charlotte Rance | OUP

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If I asked you what the hardest part of learning English was, how many of you would point out the relationship (or seeming lack of a relationship) between how English sounds and how it is written? My social media feeds are full of jokes about English spelling, like the famous poem ' The Chaos ' by G.

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Every language has a few phrases that don't always translate well - and the British English has some absolute corkers.

Our team has compiled a list of the best British slang and idioms that define the weird and wonderful British dialect we grew up with.

From our linguistic research, we've confirmed that above all, British people can be sarcastic, unsympathetic, and often rather drunk.

Each term is partnered with a description and example. Some entries also feature surprising facts about the phrase's origins, with a few quintessentially British idioms not actually coming from British roots at all.

Whether you think this list is the "bee's knees" or if it's enough to make you want to "pop your clogs," scroll on to discover 88 very British phrases - in alphabetical order - that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK.
"A few sandwiches short of a picnic"
Someone that lacks common sense might be described as "a few sandwiches short of a picnic."

The phrase was first documented in the BBC's "Lenny Henry Christmas Special" in 1987.
"She's great fun, but she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic." "Anorak"
Although it's more often used as a synonym for raincoat, an anorak is something slightly different in playground slang.

Someone that's a little bit geeky, with strong interests or expertise in a niche area, might be referred to as an "anorak." This probably originates from the "uncool" appearance of anorak coats and the people wearing them.
"Thomas is such an anorak when it comes to train trivia." "Bagsy"
Calling "bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car, is offered up to a group.

Schoolkids might call "bagsy" on items from their friends' pack lunches, like an apple or a cereal bar, that the friend isn't going to eat.
"Does anyone want thi-" "Bee's knees"
This phrase became mainstream in the USA in the 1920s despite its British origins, but its popularity in the States has dwindled since the turn of the century.

The "bee's knees" referred to small or insignificant details when it was first documented in the 18th century. Since then, the phrase has evolved and refers to something at the "height of cool."
"The Beatles are the bee's knees." "Bender"
Someone on a spree of excessive drinking and mischief is "on a bender."

Benders often last over 24 hours, and so you might say that someone is on "a weekend bender," or a "three-day bender."
"I bumped into him towards the end of his four-day bender. He was a wreck." "Blinder"
To "pull a blinder" involves achieving something difficult faultlessly and skilfully.

The phrase is most commonly used when the individual has been lucky and the person saying it is in disbelief that the first person has managed to pull it off.
"And did you see that equalising goal in the last minute of injury time? He pulled a blinder there." "Bloody or "Bleeding"
This intensifier can be added to practically any sentence in order to demonstrate incredulity or anger.

Some people consider "bloody" offensive (the origins of the word are widely disputed, so we can't be sure why) and it was considered a profanity until the mid-20th century.

The origins of the word are widely disputed. Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." Others believe the word is a contraction of the 17th century phrase "by our lady," and is blasphemous. This second theory has been disproved, however, by the slang's documentation predating the popularity of the phrase "by our lady."

Nowadays, "bloody" is used widely - it's even used in children's films such as "Harry Potter" - and is arguably one of the most quintessentially British words on the list.
"That was bloody good." "Bob's your uncle"
The very British equivalent to "Hey presto!" or "Et voila!"

This phrase is used to describe a process which seems more difficult than it actually is.
"Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. Bob's your uncle - you're driving!" "Bog-standard"
Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons.

Its origins are somewhat unclear, but a "bog" is another word for a toilet in British slang, adding to the connotations that something "bog-standard" is unglamorous and unspecial.
"How was the hostel?" "Oh, nothing exciting to report. Just your bog-standard dorm, really." "Boot"
The "boot" is the compartment at the back of the car known as the "trunk" in American English.
"Shove the shopping in the boot." "Botch job"
A repair job that's been completed in a hurry and will probably fall apart reasonably soon is considered a "botch job."
"Sam did a botch job on these shelves - they're wonky!" "Brolly"
Abbreviation of "umbrella."
"Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside." "Budge up"
An informal way of asking someone to make room where they are sitting for you to sit down, too, would be asking them to "budge up."

It's similar to "scoot over" or "move over."
"Hey, there's loads of room on that bench. Budge up and make some room for us, too!" "Builder's tea"
The name of a strongly-brewed cup of English breakfast tea with milk - the way that tea is most commonly drunk in the UK.

It's common courtesy to offer a labourer or builder working on your house a builder's tea while they're working - especially if they're working out in the cold. This is probably how the term came about.
"A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. Now that's a proper breakfast." "Butchers"
"Butcher's hook" is Cockney rhyming slang for "look." Therefore, if you're "having a butchers," you're having a look at something.
"Would you take a butchers at this broken bike for me?" "Cack-handed"
A task performed in an awkward or uncomfortable fashion, usually clumsily, would be described as "cack-handed."

"Cack" is old-fashioned slang for faeces.
"He handles a screwdriver very cack-handedly." "Cheeky"
An act which could be deemed as impolite or shameless, but for some reason comes across as funny or endearing to others, would be described as "cheeky."
"Joe's children are absolute rascals - they tied my shoelaces together last week!" "Those cheeky monkeys." "Chinese whispers"
"Chinese whispers" are rumours that have been circulated and watered down until they only vaguely resemble the truth.

The phrase originates from the game "Chinese Whispers" commonly played at children's parties. A phrase is whispered around a circle and the last person to hear the phrase has to guess what the initial phrase was.
"Simon heard from John that you were fired." "What? No. I just had Friday off work." "Oh. It must have been Chinese Whispers." "Chinwag"
A "good old chinwag" is a good chat, catch up, or gossip with someone.

The action of chatting away - with the jaw bobbing up and down - resembles a chin "wagging" like a dog's tail.
"Those two are having a proper chinwag - I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour!" "Chockablock"
Something full to the brim, or rammed, could be described as "chockalock."

This is sometimes shortened to "chocka."
"We should've taken the other route. This road is chocka!" "Chuffed"
Overjoyed; full of pride.
"I heard you got the promotion. Congratulations! You must be chuffed." "Clanger"
An obvious and indiscreet mistake or blunder.

Unrelatedly, "Clangers" was also a children's TV show from the 1970s about pink mouse-like creatures that lived on the moon.
"You dropped a clanger there." "Codswallop"
Something untrue - often made up for dramatic effect.

Although no one is completely sure of the word's origins, it could derive from the words "cod" and "wallop," which historically meant "imitation" and "beer" respectively - implying that "codswallop" is the kind of rubbish you make up when drunk.
"Oh, what a load of codswallop!" "Cost a bomb"
Expensive.

"Your watch is gorgeous."

"I should hope so, it cost a bomb."
"Cream crackered"
Cockney rhyming slang for "knackered," if you're "cream crackered" then you're incredibly tired.

A "knacker" was the person that slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hide. So, if you're "ready for the knacker's yard," you're exhausted beyond relief.
"This week's done me in already, and it's only Tuesday. I'm cream crackered." "Curtain twitcher"
A nosey neighbour, often caught peering out on their street's activities from a curtained window, might be referred to as a "curtain twitcher."
"He's obsessed with anything that happens on this street. He's a bloody curtain twitcher, but he still won't sign for our packages." "Dench"
An adjective used to advocate something that is impressive or agreeable, dench is the equivalent of "solid" or "cool" when used in response to someone else.

Its reported creator, British rapper Lethal Bizzle, elusively told the Guardian that the word "means anything you want."
"I'm going to make us spaghetti carbonara for dinner." "Dim"
Someone that lacks common knowledge might be described as "dim," whilst someone that's intelligent might be described as "bright."
"She's a bit dim." "Doddle"
An easy task is a "doddle."

The word could be a variation of "toddle" - like a young child's first steps.
"This will be a doddle." "Dog's dinner"
A "dog's dinner" is a mess or fiasco - sometimes also referred to as a "dog's breakfast."
"You've made a dog's dinner of that." "Faff"
To "faff" is to waste time doing very little.

"Faff" comes from the 17th century word "faffle," which means to flap about in the wind.
"We were just faffing about." "Fag"
A cigarette.

A "fag end" is also the ratty bits towards the ends of a reel of fabric, which are the worst and the cheapest bits of the reel. Historically, "fags" were the cheaper cigarettes made of lower grade tobacco, however, the slang has spread to encompass all cigarettes.
"Could I pinch a fag, please?" "Fit"
Used to describe someone physically attractive, usually referring to their physique.
"Flog"
To "flog" means to sell something - usually quickly and cheaply.

"Flogging" also refers to whipping a racehorse in order to make it move faster, so there is some speculation into whether you flog goods in order to make them shift faster, too. However, there is no proof for this theory.
"I'm trying to flog my old sofa. Do you know anyone that might be interested?" "Full Monty"
After "The Full Monty" film was released in 1997, there was some international confusion over the phrase in which it was taken as a euphemism for stripping. However, "the full Monty" actually refers to pursuing something to the absolute limits.

"The full Monty" historically refers to an old tailor called Sir Montague Burton. Going "the fully Monty" meant purchasing a full three-piece suit, a shirt, and all of the trimmings.
"Our Christmas dinner had everything from sprouts to Yorkshire puddings. If you're going to have a roast, have the full Monty!" "Full of beans"
Someone that's energetic, lively, or enthusiastic might be described as "full of beans."

This phrase could be a reference to coffee beans, although these claims have been disputed.
"Goodness, you're full of beans this morning!" "Gaff"
"Gaff" is an informal word for "home."

Although the origins of this phrase are largely unknown, a gaff in the 18th-century was a music hall or theatre, and so it's believed to derive from this.
"What are you up to this weekend? We've got a party at our gaff, if you fancy it?" "Gallivanting"
To "gallivant" means to roam, or to set off on an expedition, with the sole intention of having some light-hearted fun.

Historically, "gallant" described someone brave or valiant, so "gallivanting" is a carefree and confident act.
"Off they go again, gallivanting."
A "geezer" is a man that could be described as "suave" or "dapper," and is often suited and booted. Men from east London are also commonly referred to as "geezers."

Geezer is thought to stem from the 15th century "guiser," which meant well-dressed.
"That guy's got such swagger - he's a proper geezer." "Give me a tinkle on the blower"
"Give me a call" or "ring me." The phrase is sometimes shortened to "give me a tinkle."

"Tinkle" refers to a phone's ring, while "blower" is slang or telephone and refers to the device that predated phones on Naval ships. Sailors would blow down a pipe to their recipient, where a whistle at the end of the pipe would sound to spark attention.
"Give me a tinkle on the blower." "Gobsmacked"
Astounded; bewildered; shocked.

"Gob" is slang for mouth, so if you're gobsmacked, you're shocked to the point of clasping your jaw in disbelief.
"I was gobsmacked!" "Gutted"
Not to be confused with literally being disembowelled, someone that says they're "gutted" is devastated or extremely upset.
"I was absolutely gutted." "Half past"
While Americans are more likely to say "seven thirty" or "five fifty," Brits will more often than not refer to times in "minutes past" the hour. Eg, "half past seven," and "ten to six."

It's unclear why Brits appear to favour analogue time-telling while Americans go for the digital format.
"It's twenty past eleven." "Hank Marvin"
"Hank Marvin" is Cockney rhyming slang for "starving."

"I'm Hank Marvin" means "I'm hungry" or "I'm ravenous."

Hank Marvin is a British musician from the 1960s and 1970s, and is a pretty obscure reference nowadays. Marvin played guitar in Cliff Richard's backing band in the 1960s.
"When are we going to eat? I'm Hank Marvin." "Innit"
"Innit" is an abbreviation of "isn't it" most commonly used amongst teenagers and young people.

This phrase is used to confirm or agree with something that another person has just said.
"It's really cold today." "Leg it"
Make a run for it; run away; scarper.
"That's when all of the lights came on, and so we legged it." "Long"
Something that takes a lot of effort and probably isn't going to be worth all of the effort, either, could be described as "long." This could be due to the lengths that the person will have to go to in order to complete the task.

Something that is "long" is probably also annoying or aggravating.
"Cleaning the kitchen is long." "Lurgy"
If someone's "caught the lurgy," they're suffering from cold or flu-like symptoms.

"The dreaded lurgy" originates from 1950s British TV show " The Goon Show," in which one character has to deal with a national epidemic of an unidentified illness.

"Lurgy" is probably based on a mispronunciation of the word "allergy."
"She's come down with the dreaded lurgy." "Making random words past-tense to mean drunk"
Brits are known for favouring a drink or two, so much so that almost any noun can be used as a substitute for "drunk."

In his stand-up show, British comedian Michael MacIntyre said: "You can actually use any word in the English language and substitute it to mean drunk. It works."

Examples include "trollied," "smashed," and "gazeboed."
"I was absolutely car-parked last night." "Miffed"
Slightly irritated or annoyed.

"Miffed" possibly derives from the German "muffen," meaning "to sulk."
"I was a bit miffed, I can't lie." "Minging"
Something unpleasant, unappetising, or highly unattractive might be described as "minging."

The term comes from the Scottish slang word "ming," meaning faeces.
"What's in that sandwich? Is that ham and tuna? That's minging." "Mint"
"Mint" might be used when referring to something of the highest calibre.

Derived from "mint condition," which refers to something pre-owned that retains its pristine condition, although something that's just "mint" doesn't have to be pre-owned.
"Those shoes are mint!" "Mortal"
Derived from the Newcastle sociolect, "mortal" was made widely known across the country in 2011 by reality TV show "Geordie Shore."

"Mortal" describes someone highly intoxicated or drunk in a sloppy manner.
"Did you see Scott last night? He was mortal." "Nick"
"The Nick" can refer to prison, while "to nick" also means to steal.

The origins of the phrase are largely debated online, however, it's believed that "to nick" as in to steal influenced the slang term for prison, as being imprisoned is similar to being "stolen" away.
"Did you just nick that?" "Don't get caught, or you'll end up in the Nick!" "On it like a car bonnet"
This colloquialism might be said by someone that has the situation under control.
"How's the report going, Steve?" "Don't you worry, Alan, I'm on it like a car bonnet." "On the pull"
Someone that's "on the pull" has gone out, usually on a night out, with the intention of attracting a sexual partner.

"Pull" can also be used as a verb. If you've "pulled," you've kissed someone.
"You look nice. Are you going on the pull?" "Over-egg the pudding"
"Over-egging the pudding" means embellishing or over-doing something to the extent that it's detrimental to the finished product.

Although this sounds like an analogy about the chemistry of baking, or putting too many eggs in a cake batter, "egg" actually comes from the Anglo Saxon "eggian," meaning to "excite." This is still used in English in the phrase "egging someone on" to do something.

In "over-egging the pudding" analogy, someone is over-exciting, or over-mixing, the batter too much before it bakes - resulting in a tough or dense cake.
"We get it - you've injured yourself. Don't over-egg the pudding." "Pants"
Rubbish; trash; garbage.
"That is pants." "Par"
A "par" breaches social and common courtesy, eg, a disrespectful comment could be seen as a "par."

"Par" can also be used as a verb, eg, "You just got parred."

This slang term could be a British abbreviation of the French "faux pas," meaning an embarrassing or tactless remark in a social situation.
"I don't mean this as a par, but did you remember to wash this morning?" "Pear-shaped"
A situation which has quickly evolved into an accident waiting to happen might be described as "gone pear-shaped."

The phrase is reportedly old slang from the Royal Air Force and was used to described awry expeditions and flights.
"Well, this has all gone a bit pear-shaped." "Pea-souper"
A "pea-souper" is a thick fog, often with a yellow or black tinge, caused by air pollution.

The idiom was first used to describe the thick, choking smogs that settled over London, caused by lots of people burning fossil fuels in a close vicinity, as early as 1200. The smogs were compared to pea soup due to their colour and density.
"Be careful when you're driving - it's a pea-souper out there." "Pinch punch first of the month"
"Pinch punch, first of the month. No returns of any kind" is a school playground rhyme often exchanged between friends on the first day of a new calendar month, accompanied by a pinch and a punch to the recipient.

If the joker forgets to say "no returns of any kind," the recipient can say "a slap and a kick for being so quick," accompanied by a slap and a kick.

According to the Metro, the playground ritual originates from the medieval times, when a "pinch" of salt was believing to make witches weak, and the "punch" resembled banishing the witches entirely. As a result, "pinch punch, first of the month" was a way of warding off witches and bad luck for the near future.

Nowadays, it's mostly a way for kids to pull pranks on their friends.
"Pinch punch, first of the month!" "Ha! A slap and a kick for being so quick!" "Pissed"
"Pissed" usually means "angry" in the US. However, in the UK, someone that's "pissed" is most probably drunk.
"Oh leave him alone, he's pissed!" "Pop your clogs"
To "pop your clogs" means to die.

This cheery phrase is widely believed to originate from Northern factory workers around the time of the industrial revolution. When they were working on the factory floor, employees had to wear hard clogs to protect their feet.

"Pop" has evolved from "cock," and when someone "cocked" their clogs, the toes of their clogs pointed up in the air as they lay down dead.
"Did you hear what happened to John's old man? He popped his clogs, didn't he..." "Poppycock"
Something that is nonsense, rubbish, or simply untrue might be described as "poppycock."

This quintessentially British idiom derives from the Dutch "pap" and "kak," which translate as "soft" and "dung."
"What a load of poppycock!" "Quids in"
Someone who's "quids in" has invested in an opportunity which is probably going to benefit them massively.

"Quid" is British slang for "pounds," eg, "five quid" means £5.
"If it all works out as planned, he'll be quids in." "Round"
You might buy a "round" of drinks for your friends at the pub, in the understanding that they will each buy you a drink as part of their "rounds" later on.
"Whose round is it? Is it Steve's?" "No way, these pints were my round." "Shambles"
A disorganised mess or chaotic environment might be described as a "shambles."
"What's happened here? This is a shambles!" "Shirty"
Someone short-tempered or irritated might be described as "shirty."

The meaning of this slang has been debated at length. The word "shirt" is derived from the Norse for "short," hence short-tempered. However, other people believe that "shirty" has connotations of being dishevelled.
"Don't get shirty with me, mister." "Skew-whiff"
Something that is "skew-whiff" is askew.
"Is it just me or is that painting a bit skew-whiff?" "Skive"
"Skiving" is the act of avoiding work or school, often by pretending to be ill.

"Skive" is derived from the French "esquiver," meaning "to slink away."
"He skived off school so we could all go to Thorpe Park on a weekday." "Slumped"
Lacking in energy; usually after a long period of exertion.
"Do we have to go to the dinner party tonight? I'm slumped." "Smarmy"
Someone that comes across as scheming or untrustworthy might be described as "smarmy."

Although the adjective's origins remain largely unknown, early documented uses seem to use the word as synonymous with "smear," further suggesting that someone who is "smarmy" is also "slick" or "slippery."
"Don't trust him - he's a smarmy geezer." "Sod's law"
A British axiom that boils down to the idea that: "If anything can go wrong, then it definitely will go wrong."

"Sod's law" is often used to explain bad luck or freakish acts of misfortune. This is more commonly known in the US as "Murphy's law."
"Of course my toast had to land on the floor butter-side-down. It's Sod's law." "Spanner in the works"
An event that disrupts the natural, pre-planned order of events could be described as a "spanner in the works."

The phrase describes the mayhem caused when something is recklessly thrown into the intricate gears and workings of a machine.
"By getting pregnant, Mary threw a spanner in the works." "Spend a penny"
To "spend a penny" is a polite euphemism for going to the toilet.

The phrase goes back to Victorian public toilets, which required users to insert a single penny in order to operate the lock.

Although it sounds crude, the phrase is actually considered a polite way of announcing that you are going to visit the bathroom. Historically, only women would announce they were going to "spend a penny," as only women's public toilets required a penny to lock. Men's urinals were free of charge.
"I'm going to spend a penny." "Splash out"
To "splash out" means spending significant amounts of money on a particular item or event.

If you're "splashing out," it's implied that you're spending money on a treat to mark a special occasion or celebration.
"Wow - you've really splashed out on this party!" "Swot"
Similar to "nerd" or "geek" but less derogatory - someone that takes academic study very seriously might be described as a "swot."

"Swot" can also be used as a verb.

"I haven't seen Tom since he started revising for his exams. He's turned into such a swot!"
"Yeah, he's been swotting like mad for his Spanish exam." "Take the biscuit"
If someone has done something highly irritating or surprising in an exasperating fashion, you might say that they've "taken the biscuit."

"Taking the biscuit" is the equivalent of taking the nonexistent medal for foolishness or incredulity.
"I could just about deal with the dog barking at 5:30a.m., but the lawnmower at 3 a.m. really takes the biscuit." "Take the Mickey"
To "take the Mickey" means to take liberties at the expense of others - and can be used in both a lighthearted and an irritated fashion.

"Take the Mickey" is an abbreviation of "taking the Mickey Bliss," which is Cockney rhyming slang for "take the p***."
"Hey! Don't take the Mickey." "Tickety-boo"
Something that is "tickety-boo" is satisfactory and in good order.

This classic British idiom may seem stereotypically twee, however, some sources believe that "tickety-boo" in fact derives from the Hindu phrase "ṭhīk hai, bābū," meaning "it's alright, sir."
"Everything's tickety-boo." "Waffle"
When someone makes a great speech while skirting around a subject or saying little of any value, you might say that they're talking "waffle," or that they're "waffling."

In the 17th century, to "waff" went to yelp, and quickly evolved to mean to talk foolishly or indecisively.

"I wish he'd stop waffling on."
"What a load of waffle!" "Wally"
Someone silly or incompetent might be described as a wally.

Although its origins are largely debated, the term's meaning has evolved over the last 50 years alone.

In the 1960s, someone that was unfashionable might be nicknamed a "wally," according to dictionary.com.
"Don't put down a leaking mug on top of the newspaper, you wally!" "Wangle"
If you've "wangled" something, you've accomplished or attained something through cunning means.
"I wangled some first-class seats by being nice to the cabin crew!" "Whinge"
To "whinge" means to moan, groan, and complain in an irritating or whiney fashion.
"Quit whinging." "Wind your neck in"
If you want to tell someone to not concern themselves with issues that don't directly affect them, you might tell them to "wind their neck in."

This classic phrase is another way of telling someone that their opinion is not appreciated in the given scenario.
"Wind your neck in and stop being so nosy!" "Wind-up merchant"
Someone that makes comments just to spark controversy or argument might be labelled a "wind-up merchant."

The "wind-up merchant" will often claim to be making their comments as a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated.

If you're "winding someone up," you're making them tense or irritated in the same way you wind up a Jack-in-the-box before it pops.
"Stop being such a wind-up merchant and be serious for one second!" "Zonked"
Exhausted; tired.
"I was going to go out tonight but when I finished work I was absolutely zonked."

Read more from Business Insider UK* Meet the Instagram-famous travel blogging couple who get paid up to £7,000 to post a single photo Read the original article on Business Insider UK
© 2016. Follow Business Insider UK onTwitter
* What it's really like to swap city life to live on one of the most remote islands in the world
* A woman who travels the world taking stock photos tells us how you can make £6,000 from a single image

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Every language has a few phrases that don't always translate well - and the British English has some absolute corkers. Our team has compiled a list of the best British slang and idioms that define the weird and wonderful British dialect we grew up with.

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We've asked over 18,000 expats about their experiences abroad - find out which destinations are the best for working abroad in 2018.

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Long exposure photography can really allow you to photograph some unique shots, particularly those that capture motion and convey a sense of movement. It can be moving water or clouds in a landscape shot, or moving traffic lights in a cityscape, or maybe people moving in a crowd. The creative possibilities are endless.

This post is a collection of some wonderful photographs that have captured motion through long exposure. We hope that they inspire you to go out and capture some long exposure shots of your own!

If long exposure photography interests you, and you want to learn how to create magical long exposure shots, do take a look at Kent DuFault's guide to long exposure photography.

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Long exposure photography can really allow you to photograph some unique shots, particularly those that capture motion and convey a sense of movement. It can be moving water or clouds in a landscape shot, or moving traffic lights in a cityscape, or maybe people moving in a crowd.

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In an alphabetic writing system, a silent letter is a letter that, in a particular word, does not correspond to any sound in the word's pronunciation.

In an alphabetic writing system, a silent letter is a letter that, in a particular word, does not correspond to any sound in the word's pronunciation.
Silent Letters in English Words - Video
Slient B

Silent C

Silent D

Silent G

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People come in all shapes and sizes - and with different personalities. Having the right words to describe them is helpful.

In your life, you have met - and will meet - a lot of different types of people. From friendly to rude, sensible to foolish, extroverted to introverted - you will probably encounter them all in your lifetime.
Here is a list of 14 different English idioms that describe positive personality types: 1. Born optimist
Someone who always thinks positively is a born optimist.

Example: I admire Jamal because he always sees the sunny side of life. He's a born optimist.
2. Culture vulture
A culture vulture refers to someone who loves culture, i.e. art, theatre, literature, music etc..

Example: John spends most of his weekends reading books or attending art exhibitions. He's a real culture vulture.
3. Eager beaver
An eager beaver is a (sometimes overly enthusiastic) person who works very hard to get things done or achieve goals.

Example: She always does her English grammar homework and even asks for extra exercises on the weekend. What an eager beaver!
4. Early bird
An early bird is someone who is early, in particular (but not exclusively) someone who gets up early in the morning. Being an early bird can be quite advantageous. As the old proverb states, ❛the early bird gets the worm❜.

Example: In her senior years, when she finally had the luxurious freedom to sleep in, Delores became an early bird and got up every morning at 5:00 am.
5. Earth mother
The term earth mother refers to a woman is very caring and maternal, i.e. who has a natural ability as a mother.

Example: Even as a young girl, Ida showed herself to be an earth mother. She always helped her mother to look after her younger brothers and sisters.
6. Family man
A family man is a man who devoted to his family.

Example: Since the birth of his twins, Harvey has become a family man. He spends all of his spare time with his children.
7. Go-getter
A go-getter is someone who is ambitious and pursues his goals.

Example: It isn't surprising that Isaac has made it to the top of the corporate world. He was always someone who went after what he wanted, a real go-getter.
8. Good egg
A good egg is a good person.

Example: Marry was the type of person who would have helped anyone - a real good egg.
9. Jack-of-all-trades
A jack-of-all-trades is someone who can do several jobs instead of only being specialized in one.

Example: From auto repair to hairdressing, Frank can do it all. He is a jack-of-all-trades.
10. Man of his word / woman of her word
A man of his word or a woman of her word is someone who always does what he/she promises.

Example: You can trust Samuel. He is a man of his word.
11. Mover and shaker
A mover and shaker is an influential person who makes things happen.

Example: He was a mover and shaker in the world of politics. He accomplished a lot in his 30-year career.
12. Smart cookie
A smart cookie refers to someone who is clever and good at dealing with difficult situations.

Example: Why don't we ask Miss Chips to help us solve our problem? I've been told that she's a smart cookie.
13. Teacher's pet
The teacher's favorite student is the teacher's pet. Since it is not always nice to be labelled the teacher's favorite, this English idiom can be used in both a positive as well as a negative sense.

Example: The teacher is never angry when Albert forgets to do his homework. He is the teacher's pet.
14. Whizz kid
A whizz kid is a young person who is very clever and successful.

Example: I've never seen anyone learn English grammar tenses faster than André. In only two weeks, he knew everything about the present perfect simple - what a whizz kid!

List of 15 ❛not-so-nice❜ English idioms to describe people: 1. Fast-talker
A fast talker is a super talker, i.e. someone who is good at persuading people to do what he wants. A fast-talker can convince people to believe things that are not true or do things that they would not normally do.

Example: When I went to the car dealership, I wanted to buy a small compact car. When I left, I had purchased a van. The salesman was a real fast-talker!
2. Busybody
A busybody refers to someone who is overly interested in the lives of others.

Example: Martha is always looking out her window to see what the neighbors are doing - what a busybody!
3. Cheapskate
If someone is stingy or obsessively avoids spending money, he or she can be called a cheapskate

Example: When we go out; I always have to pay for everything. Fred is such a cheapskate!
4. Fuddy-duddy
A fuddy-duddy is someone who has old-fashioned ideas and is extremely conservative.

Example: Old Mr. Smith's ideas are typical of the 1950s. He's an old fuddy-duddy.

A goody-goody is a ❛Miss or Mr. Perfect❜ who tries very hard to please people in authority, especially teachers and parents. In fact, a goody-goody tries too hard to please them and is, therefore, not liked by his or her peers.

Example: Nola always hands in her English grammar homework early. She's such a goody-goody!
6. Gold digger
A gold digger is someone who has a relationship with someone in an effort to get the other person's money.

Example: Nora is only interested in Mr. Higgins money. She's a gold digger.
7. Know-it-all
The typical know-it-all seems to know everything and annoys other people by showing how clever they are. In British English, this idiom is referred to as a know-all.

Example: No one is more of a know-it-all than Rodney. He is constantly correcting his parents and teachers on the subjects of European history and geography.
8. Nosy parker
Someone who is ❛overly❜ interested in finding out information about other people is called a nosy parker.

Example: The Martins are always looking out their kitchen window to see what we are doing. Don't those nosy parkers have better things to do?
9. Party pooper
A party pooper is someone who ruins all of the fun at a party or get-together by not wanting to participate in certain activities or simply through negativity.

Example: We asked Lee to play a game of Monopoly with us but he said no. Instead of playing, he went home. He's such a party pooper!
10. Penny pincher
Although not quite as negative as the expression cheapskate, the term penny-pincher refers to someone who is very careful about the money he spends.

Example: Martha is extremely careful about the money she spends. She is a penny pincher.
11. Half-wit
A foolish, unintelligent or stupid person can be called a half-wit.

Example: I didn't know that anyone could be that foolish. How could that half-wit spend so much money on silly things?
12. Slimeball
The term slimeball is used to refer to two types or people, both of them bad. The first meaning of slimeball is someone who is generally terrible - a bad, unpleasant or dishonest person. The second meaning is similar. It refers to an unpleasant person who is friendly in a way that is not sincere. In other words, someone who says nice things to you but isn't being honest about how he really feels.

Examples: After 25 years of marriage, he left her to go on a trip around the world with his new girlfriend. What a slimeball!
13. Smart alec
A person who thinks he is highly intelligent and tries to demonstrate this fact to others can be called a smart alec. Smart alecs often like to contradict and correct others and are, therefore, not liked.

Example: When I made my presentation, Stefan publicly questioned the accuracy of my statements. Why couldn't that smart alec wait until after my speech to tell me what he thought?
14. Wise guy
A wise guy is another term for a smart alec, i.e. someone who is always trying to present himself as being more clever than everyone else.

Example: So you think you're right, wise guy? You're not as smart as you think.
15. Worrywart
Worrywarts are people who worry too much or worry about unimportant things.

Example: Walter constantly worried about his children. He was a worrywart.

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English idioms are a group of words which have a meaning which isn't obvious from looking at the individual words.
1. A penny for your thoughts
A way of asking what someone is thinking.
2. Actions speak louder than words
People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
3. Back to the drawing board
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
4. Ball is in your court
It is up to you to make the next decision or step.
5. Blessing in disguise
Something good that isn't recognized at first.
6. Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting.
7. Costs an arm and a leg
This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
8. Curiosity killed the cat
Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
9. Don't sweat it
Don't worry about it.
10. Get out of town
I don't believe you.
11. Hands down
For certain the right answer
12. How's it going?
How are you?
13. I made a key decision
Make an important decision.
14. I was knocked on my heels
I was surprised.
15. See eye to eye
Agreeing with someone

16. A piece of cake
Something is very easy.
17. To feel under the weather
To not feel well
18. To hit the nail on the head
Describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem
19. Close but no cigar
Close but fail at the end
20. Hang on a second
Wait for a moment
21. Spill the beans
To tell the secret
22. Stray on track
To stay focused on the goal
23. Take it easy
Calm down
24. Throw an idea around
Casually suggest an idea
25. Your guess is as good as mine
To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question
26. Taste of your own medicine
Something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else.
27. Off one's rocker
Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile.
28. Can't stand (something)
To dislike something
29. Driving me bananas
Making me feel crazy
30. Picture paints a thousand words
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

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Comics Showing What Love Looks Like Before and After 30 - Page 3 - My-Familymag.com

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Autumn is probably my favourite season. Autumn is the season of birthdays in my family. Also, it's not too hot or too cold. This year, this is especially important for me as I have been assigned a small class facing south and I know, come May, I'll be sweating up a storm. So, for the time being, let's enjoy beautiful autumn.

This year I am teaching 2-hour lessons so, more than ever, I feel the necessity to design activities that might change the pace of the lessons and keep my students from dozing off in my classes. The activity below is aimed at that. Still, I need to be completely honest here. I have not started teaching proper lessons so this activity has not been tested yet. I'll let you know how it goes and if I hear any snores or see people yawning, then I would know it has been a complete failure.

Aim:

to revise and consolidate adjectives related to feelings

to use these adjectives in a speaking activity.

Tool: Genial.ly. For this activity, we will use the grid below with gifs representing different feelings. This is an interactive image created with an awesome tool called Genial.ly, which I am proud to say is a Spanish start-up used all around the world. Genial.ly lets you create engaging interactive visual content and for this activity, I have used the "Hide" effect so if you mouse over the gif, you'll be able to see the adjective. Also, the questions for discussion will be displayed when you click on the numbers.

(click on the arrows to enlarge the image)

For each of the squares in the grid, do part 1 and then part 2.

FIRST PART: WORKING ON VOCABULARY

Ask students to work in pairs. Student A will be playing "against" Student B.

Ask student As to choose a number from the Feelings Grid below. You can ask all the As to agree on a number, but in some classes, it might prove a difficult task to reach quick consensus, so you might want to just choose a random student A to decide on a number.

Once they have chosen a number, both student A and B will write the adjective they think is hidden behind the gif representing the feeling. Allow 30 seconds for this step. Let student A and B compare their answers and then mouse over the gif to display the hidden adjective.

If they have guessed the adjective, they score 2 points. If the adjective they have written is a synonym, they score 1 point. Ask students to keep score of the points they get.

On the board, you might want to write the target adjective and the synonyms they come up with. Drill pronunciation of the adjective and all its synonyms.

For example, if they choose Gif 9 and the adjective is "worried" you might want to accept " anxious, troubled or concerned" as synonyms. You can use a synonym dictionary, like this one https://www.thesaurus.com/. There is no shame in this. 😉

SECOND PART: WORKING ON SPEAKING

Click on the number, in this case, number 9 and a question will be displayed. Ask students in pairs to discuss the question. Set about 4 minutes per question. Walk around. Monitor and help. Avoid overcorrecting.

Now, B's choose a new number from the Feelings Grid.

Note: if you haven't taught any of the adjectives, you can still use the activity. Change the rules of the game and instead of scoring two points if they guessed the adjective, you might want to give them the points if they come up with a synonym even though it's not exactly the one hidden behind the gif.

To be on the safe side, and to avoid wasting time checking the dictionary, you might want to write a list of synonyms before you play the game.

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Using an Interactive Image to Play a Game to Revise and Consolidate Feeling Adjectives

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Autumn is probably my favourite season. Autumn is the season of birthdays in my family. Also, it's not too hot or too cold. This year, this is especially important for me as I have been assigned a small class facing south and I know, come May, I'll be sweating up a storm.

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I have to confess I have never been what my dear departed father used to call "a corgi watcher"-someone obsessed with the royal family. Her Majesty's views and mine, though I have sadly not as yet had the opportunity to exchange them, almost certainly diverge on issues of class and politics.

But like many Brits of my generation (I was born the year before the coronation) my life has been bookended by the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who in 2015 entered the record books as the longest serving monarch in a thousand years of British kings and queens, eclipsing the 63 years and 216 days set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

In that time, she has presided over immense social and political upheavals. When she came to the throne in 1952, a svelte young woman with raven-black hair, rationing from the Second World War had only recently been lifted; the British Empire still ruled large swaths of the globe; homosexuality was a crime; divorce, a stigma; premarital sex, the exception; ethnic minorities, a rarity; sport, mostly amateur; British food, mostly inedible.

Today's Britain-where some London schools have kids speaking more than a hundred languages, where gay marriage is legal and footballers are paid more per week than the prime minister earns in a year-is like another country. London now even has more Michelin-starred restaurants than Paris!

As 12 prime ministers and presidents came and went; as haircuts and hemlines got longer or shorter; and our faith in modernity gave way to anxiety about climate change, the queen has remained as steady as the chimes of Big Ben in honoring the vow she took at her coronation: not to rule over her people, but to serve them. Dedication to duty, constancy, and love of country are the old-fashioned virtues that have defined her reign. For 65 years, she has never faltered, never misspoken, as far as I can remember, or intentionally offended anyone; never let herself-or us-down.

Her life has not been without unhappiness. The assassination of her beloved cousin, Louis Mountbatten, by the IRA in 1979 cut a wound in her heart that took many years to heal. And it is a measure of her tenacity and fierce commitment to duty that, during an emotionally charged visit to Ireland in 2012, she shook hands with former IRA commander and current Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness.

The annus horribilis of 1992, when her children's marriages fell apart and Windsor Castle went up in flames, saw popularity of the House of Windsor fall to its lowest ebb. When she did not immediately respond to the outpouring of grief over Princess Diana's death, many felt that the monarchy had lost touch with its people.

Today, blessed by new great-grandchildren and future heirs, a thriving economy, and the longest period of peace in Britain's long history, she is admired and adored, not just in Britain but around the world.

I will never be a corgi watcher. But I take my hat off to her and ask you, dear reader, to join me in a traditional British salutation: God Save the Queen!

This piece was originally published in September 2015 and updated on May 18, 2018.

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Queen Elizabeth's Record-Breaking Reign in 15 Pictures

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I have to confess I have never been what my dear departed father used to call "a corgi watcher"-someone obsessed with the royal family. Her Majesty's views and mine, though I have sadly not as yet had the opportunity to exchange them, almost certainly diverge on issues of class and politics.

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Even for the most confident students taking an oral exam can be quite stressful. Twice a year, in June and September, I assess students' speaking abilities acting as both an interlocutor asking questions and interacting with students, or an assessor listening to students' performance.

It was while acting as an assessor that I decided to write down the most common pronunciation mistakes students make with the intention of going over them ,with my own students, at the very beginning of the course.

I have created a quiz with, what I hope, will be the last I see of these pronunciation mistakes. I hope you find it useful!
Blog de Cristina is also on Facebook. Click to follow

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Most Common Pronunciation Mistakes Heard in Oral Exams

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Even for the most confident students taking an oral exam can be quite stressful. Twice a year, in June and September, I assess students' speaking abilities acting as both an interlocutor asking questions and interacting with students, or an assessor listening to students' performance. It was

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English flashcards illustrating gestures .

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English Insulting Slang. Top 10 Most Beautiful British Insults.

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One of our favorite facets of British English are the beautiful insults that are possible ... Keep it relatively humorous! English Insulting Slang

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Gather your friends, grab some board games and you will be learning English in no time.

Learning by playing with others is a really great way to remember what you learn.

There are a lot of board games that can be used to learn English. Some are great for learning new vocabulary, while others are a good way to practice using the vocabulary you already know.

Below is a list of 10 great board games to get you started.

Contents

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere.Click here to get a copy. (Download)

No English learning game list can be complete without the classic Scrabble game!

To play Scrabble you have to arrange letters into words on a playing board. Letters earn you points, and special tiles on the board give you extra points. The goal of the game is to beat your opponent(s) by writing the best words and putting them in the best place on the board.

You may be thinking that you probably need to know a lot of words before you can play the game, but here's the best part: Scrabble games are often played with dictionaries close by.

You will start to get a great sense of how English words look and feel once you have played a few times, and you start to see the letters in a different way. You might see the letters L, E, E and R, and wonder if Leer is a word. Look it up in the dictionary and you will learn that it is a word, and that it means "to stare at someone in an unpleasant way."

Scrabble is also great because you do not need to get a big group of people together to enjoy it: It is a perfect two-player game.

Also try: Words With Friends. This is basically Scrabble online. You can play against any of your friends anytime, no matter where they are.

Every card in Taboo shows one main word. Below the main word you will find a list of words that are similar to the main word, either synonyms (words which have the same meaning) or words which are closely associated with the main word. Your task is to describe the main word to someone without using any of the words underneath it.

For example, if your card's main word is "elbow," the words under it would be "joint," "arm," "bend," "knee" and "macaroni." In this case you cannot say "it's like a knee on your arm," or "it's a kind of macaroni that bends."

How would you describe an elbow without using any of those words?

As you can see, this game is much harder than it sounds at first. It makes you think in creative ways. Thanks to Taboo, you will discover that you know a lot more words than you think you do.

Also, if you play with a dictionary you will have a chance to learn not just one new word, but any word that is listed under it as well. Taboo can be played with any number of people, using teams or just going one-by-one. However you want to play, it is still fun and you will still learn something!

Also try: Taboo for iOS or Android. You still need a group of people to play it, so save these games for the next time you have a party.

To play Apples to Apples every player except one "judge" puts a card down face-down that is best described by a special card on the table.

The judge turns the cards over and chooses the best card. Whoever placed that card down wins a point, and someone else gets to be the judge in the next turn.

It is a very fun game that is also very funny, since the card combinations can sometimes be ridiculous. A card like "Loveable" might end up with results like "Butterflies" or "My Bathroom."

It is also a great game for learning English.

The words on the cards are all either nouns or adjectives. Best of all, you don't even need to play this game with a dictionary-the definitions are listed right on the cards. Adjective cards like "frightening" have synonyms like "scary." Nouns like "Octogenarian" have definitions that are sometimes funny, like "A person who is between 80 and 90 years old. They do not have eight legs."

You do need a big group of people to play this game-4 people is fine but more than 5 is recommended. Also keep in mind that some nouns have famous peoples names or some popular culture items, so they might not be familiar to you.

Once upon a time...there lived a monster, or a king, or maybe a princess? You decide.

Once Upon a Time is a card game that lets you and your friends tell a story. Everyone gets some cards that have story elements and one card that has an ending.

One narrator (the person telling the story) gets to start telling the story, trying to use the cards in their hand and lead the story to the ending they have. Other players can interrupt by placing down their own cards and continue the story with different ideas instead.

It is a really fun game where no one really "wins"-the point is to tell an interesting story and entertain yourself and your friends. You can use the game as it is or make your own cards with words that you want to learn. Have fun trying to include as many vocabulary words in your story as you can.

Atlas Games, the makers of Once Upon a Time, has actually put the full instructions and list of cards for the game on their website! That way you can practice alone or create your own game to play with friends.

Also try: Writing Challenge app for Android or iOS. While slightly different, both of these apps are a great place to start if you like the idea of practicing storytelling and creative writing.

Scattergories is a game that makes you "think outside the box"-or in other words, think creatively.

You are given categories-like "color" or "things that are cold"-and you have to think of words that fit those categories. Before each round, you roll a die to choose a letter. Then the timer starts and everyone races to be more creative than the others by thinking of words that begin with that letter and fit the categories.

You score more points for writing things that no one else wrote. So if your letter is "I" and your category is "things that are cold," instead of writing "ice cream" you might write "igloo."

This is a fantastic game for anyone who's just starting out with English and wants to practice vocabulary words. It pushes you to think of more uncommon words and their definitions. It is even better if you play with a native so you can learn new words from them.

Scattegories is actually pretty easy to play without needing to buy anything. Choose your own categories, set a timer on your phone and-there you have it! You are ready to play. You can even challenge yourself by playing it alone.

Here's another great vocabulary game!

Can you arrange all your letters into words? Make words that are 2-6 letters long with the tiles that you are given. Dabble is similar to Scrabble but gives you freedom to create whatever words you want, without needing to connect them to anything on a board.

Dabble will make you think hard about how to use your letters to make the most words. It uses anagrams, which are words that have rearranged (mixed up) letters.

To learn the most from Dabble, try playing with an anagram solver like this one: just put in the letters that you have left and you will see what words you can create with them. Look up any words you don't know, and you will be learning new vocabulary.

Also try: There are many anagram games for mobile. If you liked Dabble, try Anagram Twist on iOS. This game uses categories to make things a little easier for you.

A bunch of vocabulary words right at your fingertips! In Funglish you have to get others to guess words by using tiles with descriptive words on them.

Each card you get has six words on it. You have three minutes to get everyone else to guess as many of these words as they can. You describe what the words definitely are, might be and are definitely not.

For example, if you wanted to describe the word "cat," you might say it is definitely "furry," it might be "fat" and it is definitely not "scaly."

Before you even start playing, it is a good idea to look through all the words and look up the ones you don't know. One way to learn well from this game is to eliminate the time limit and look up words in the dictionary as you play. Repeated usage of vocabulary words helps you remember them, so playing Funglish will teach you more than a few new words.

Also try: Word search apps like Word Search for Android can introduce you to new words while playing. The key is to look up any new words you don't know!

Boggle is a game where you have a special set of dice with letters on them in a little tray.

You shake the 16 dice and they show different letters. Your task is to find words with the letters that are shown, but to create a word, the letters have to be touching each other in any direction.

The words have to be at least three letters long and you can't use a die more than once for one word. You can choose to use the timer or not, it's up to you! Once the time is up, everyone reads their list of words. If one word is used more than once by two or more people, it no longer counts. The longer your unique word is, the more points you get.

You don't necessarily need to buy the game to play. You can make your own version with paper and a pen. Draw a 4×4 grid and put random letters in it. Then, set a timer, and you're ready to play!

Boggle is a great way to learn new words and practice English. Grab your friends and family, put on your thinking hats, and enjoy the exciting word adventure of Boggle! It's a game that makes learning fun, helps you find new words and lets you show off your creativity.

Thanks to these great board games you will not even realize that you are learning English.

You will just be playing around with your friends-or your smartphone.

But remember that you don't always need board games and friends around to make English studies exciting. You can actually get a lot of interesting learning done all by yourself.

For self-studying, you can use language learning tools, like FluentU, that can teach English in engaging ways.

It's always a great idea to supplement your regular English learning routine with engaging activities like apps, videos and board games. This keeps you motivated and makes your learning experience feel more like play than work.

And why not?

Learning should be fun!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere.Click here to get a copy. (Download)

And One More Thing...

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials, as you can see here:

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you're learning.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you're learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words-and reminds you when it's time to review what you've learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or from the Google Play store.

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The Top 10 English Board Games to Learn English While Having Fun | FluentU English Blog

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English board games are a great way to make your English studies more exciting. Check out our list of ten board games so you can learn English and enjoy yourself at the same time! Play classics such as Scrabble, Taboo, Bananagrams and many more.

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this document is a color photograph.
their is the american flag which called the star spangled banner or the stars and stripes, we can see too a fireman he's holding a helmet under his left arm.
It's for the memory of this colleagues who died after the terrorist attacks which took place on september 11th 2001 widely called 9/11 attacks.

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this document is a color photograph. their is the american flag which called the star spangled banner or the stars and stripes, we can see too a fireman he's holding a helmet under his left arm. It's for the memory of this colleagues who died after the terrorist attacks which took place on september 11th 2001 widely called 9/11 attacks.

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How to Improve Your English Language Skills? Things You Can Do To Improve Your English...

Listening is the one skill that you use the most in everyday life. To train your listening skills, it is important to listen actively.
There are many ways to help you listen effectively.

- Listen carefully to the introduction

- Write all your answers as you listen

- Check that what you write makes sense in the context

- Pay attention to any examples

- Keep to the word limit

- Try to answer all the questions

- Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation

- Learn phrases/ sentences, not individual words

- Do not study grammar rules

- Learn with ears, not with eyes

- Use, listen to, and answer many stories

- Use point of view mini stories to learn English grammar

How you read the text will depend on whether you are reading it for the first, second or even third time. These techniques will help you.

- Look out for the title , headings and any special features such as capital letters, underlining italics, figures, graphs and tables.

- Allocate proper time.

- If you don't know the answer to a question, attempt it but do not waste time, move quickly onto the next one.

- Check your spelling

- Use singular and plural correctly

- Pay attention to the word limit

- Choose a title that draws attention

- Find out all you can about your topic

- Organize your ideas before you begin

- Add your own style to your writing

- Include interesting information

- Make sure you stick to the topic

- Use words wisely

- Remember that good grammar counts

- Reread and revise your writing

- Enjoy your writing and others will, too

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Top Tips for Improving Your English Language Skills - ESL Buzz

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How to Improve Your English Language Skills? Things You Can Do To Improve Your English... Listening is the one skill that you use the most in everyday life. To train your listening skills, it is important to listen actively.There are many ways to help you listen effectively.

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Internet Slang Dictionary: Acronyms, Phrases and Idioms

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Internet slang is a type of slang used, and most often invented by internet users. Many internet ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=45&v=-Bk9nKZcicw

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"Very good" is pretty common, and there are many different ways to say the same type of thing

You're on the right track now!

That's the best ever

You've got it made

You've just about mastered it

Super!

Perfect!

That's right!

That's better than ever

That's good

Much better!

You're really working hard today

Wonderful

You are very good at that

You must have been practicing

That's coming along nicely

You did that very well

Good work!

Fine!

I'm happy to see you working like that

Nice going

That's much, much better!

You're really going to town

Exactly right

Outstanding

I'm proud of the way you worked today

Fantastic

You're doing that much better today

Tremendous!

You've just about got it

That's how to handle that

That's the best you've ever done

Now that's what I call a fine job

You're doing a good job

That's great!

That's it!

Right on

Now you've fingured it out

You're really improving

That's quite an improvement

You're doing beautifully!

Great!

Superb!

I knew you could do it

Good remembering

Congratulations!

You've got that down pat

Not bad

You certainly did well today

Keep working on it

Keep it up!

You're improving

Congratulations. You got it right!

Now you have it!

You did a lot of work today

You are learning fast

Well look at you go

Good for you!

That's it

Couldn't have done it better myself

I'm very proud of you

Aren't you proud of yourself?

Marvelous!

One more time and you'll have it

I like that

You really make my job fun.

Way to go!

That's the right way to do it.

Now you have the hang of it

You're getting better every day

You're doing fine!

You did it that time!

Good thinking

That's not half bad

You are really learning a lot

Nice going

Good going

You haven't missed a thing!

I've never seen anymore do it better

Wow!

Keep on trying

That's the way!

You outdid yourself today!

Keep up the good work

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80+ Ways to Say "Very Good" in English - ESL Buzz

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"Very good" is pretty common, and there are many different ways to say the same type of thing You're on the right track now! That's the best ever You've got it made You've just about mastered it Super! Perfect! That's right! That's better than ever That's good Much better!

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60+ Alternative Ways to Say GOODBYE in English - ESL Buzz

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How many ways do you know how to say "goodbye" in English? Here are many different ways to say goodbye and see which ones you like the most

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1. Exactly.

2. Totally.

3. Definitely.

4. Of course.

5. That's a good point.

6. You're absolutely right.

7. That's so true.

8. That's for sure.

9. I'm with you 100%.

10. I couldn't agree with you more.

11. I guess so.

12. I suppose.

13. Yes, I agree.

14. I think so too.

15. That's a (very) good point.

16. Oh yes, that's right.

17. I don't think so either.

18. That's true.

19. That's just what I was thinking.

20. That's exactly what I think.

21. I think you're right.

22. I hear you.

23. Yes, me too / me neither.

24. I totally agree with you

25. You're so very right!

26. You're reading my mind.

27. My view about this is positive.

28. I agree with this idea.

29. I agree completely with this idea.

30. I agree partially with this idea.

31. This idea is absolutely right.

32. This idea is partially right.

33. I couldn't agree more on this.

34. I think this idea is good.

1. I don't think I completely agree.

2. I'm not so sure about that.

3. I don't think that's the case.

4. That's not necessarily true.

5. No way!

6. Absolutely not!

7. Are you kidding me?

8. I see, but that's different.

9. Sorry, I don't agree with you.

10. I don't see it that way.

11. That's not entirely true.

12. That's partly true but...

13. I see your point but...

14. I'm sorry to disagree with you but...

15. Yes, but don't you think...?

16. I think that's not the same thing at all.

17. On the contrary...

18. Well, I'm not so sure about that.

19. Sorry, I think that's wrong.

20. Yeah, but the problem is that...

21. Well, I think it's not as simple as that.

22. I think this idea is impossible ...

23. I think this idea is possible, but......

24. I think this idea cannot be implemented.

25. I think you're totally wrong.

26. That doesn't make any sense.

27. Absolutely wrong.

28. I don't agree with this idea.

29. I think it is a bad idea.

30. I'm not sure that I agree with this idea.

31. The project is feasible, but ...

32. Yes, but ...

33. I'm afraid I have to disagree.

34. I'm sorry to disagree with you, but ...

35. I see things differently.

36. I tend to disagree with that idea.

37. I agree up to a point, however ...

38. You have a point there, but ...

39. You could be right, however ...

40. The idea is worth considering, but ...

41. Perhaps a weakness of this is that ...

42. I strongly disapprove of the plan.

43. I'm absolutely against the proposal.

How to Effectively Express Your Opinion | Image
How to effectively express your opinion | Image 1 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 2 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 3 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 4

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Expressing Opinions in English: Agreeing and Disagreeing - ESLBUZZ

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In this article, you'll learn how to effectively express your opinion, agree and disagree with someone's opinions.

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Learn commonly used idioms in daily English conversations

Learn commonly used idioms in daily English conversations

above board: honest, open

ad lib: improvise, interpolate

after all: in spite of the situation; nevertheless

against the grain: contrary to someone's feelings, principles

all along: all the time

all ears: eager to listen

all of a sudden: no difference

all thumbs: clumsy

apple of one's eye: very dear, precious

apple of discord: subject of envy or quarrel

as a rule: generally, usually

as far as I know: if I have correct information

as far as I am concerned: in my opinion

as for me/ as to me: in my opinion

as well: also, too

at first sight: from the first glance; at once; at first glance

at odds with: in disagreement with

at random: at this time

backseat driver: a passenger who tells you how to drive

ballpark figure: approximate estimate (in figures)

bark at the moon: do a useless thing; waste time

bark up the wrong tree: accuse or pursue the wrong person; misdirect one's efforts

be about to: ready

be all in: be extremely tired

be back on one's feet: healthy again or better financially

beat around the bush: avoid giving a clear/definite answer

be behind the times: be old-fashioned, outdated

be beside oneself: be very upset, nervous, worried

be better off: be in a better situation (financially)

be broke: have no money at all; be penniless, bankrupt

be hard on something or someone: treat roughly

be high on one's list: be one of the most important things

be in charge of something: be responsible for

be in good health: be healthy

be in poor health: be not healthy

be in good shape: be physically fit; in good condition

be in bad shape: be in bad state; in bad condition

be in the red: be in debt

be on/at the point of something: be on the verge of something; be close to doing something

be out of date: be outdated

be out of sorts: be in bad temper

be pressed for time, for money: not to have enough time, money

be to blame: be responsible for a mistake, for something wrong

be touch and go: risky, dangerous; uncertain of the result

be up and around / about: able to be out of bed after an illness

be up to one's ears in work: be very busy

beat around/about the bush: avoid giving a clear or definite answer

beat one's brains out: make great efforts, often unsuccessfully

before long: soon

big shot: important person

bite off more than one can chew: try to do more than one can

bite the bullet: accept painful but necessary action

bite the dust: be killed; die; suffer defeat

bite the hand that feeds one: repay kindness with evil

black sheep: a good-for-nothing member of the family

blind date: a meeting between a man and a woman (who have never met before) arranged by their friends

blow it: lose the chance

bottom line: main result; main factor

break someone's heart: hurt deeply

break the ice: overcome awkwardness or shyness

break the news (to someone): tell important news

bring home the bacon: earn the living for the family

by all means: definitely, certainly

by heart: by memorizing

by hook or by crook: by any possible means

by oneself (by myself, by himself, etc.): alone; on one's own

by the way: incidentally

call a halt to something: terminate, stop something

call a spade a spade: use plain, direct words

call it a day: consider work finished for the day

call the shots: give orders; be in control of something

call the tune: give orders; be the most important person in some situation

carry weight: be important

castles in the air: daydreaming about success

catch someone's eye: attract attention

catch one's breath: stop and rest

catch someone off guard: catch someone unprepared

catch someone red-handed: find someone in the act of doing wrong

close call: a narrow escape; a bad thing that almost happened

come to one's senses: act normally and reasonably again

come true: become reality

cross one's mind: occur to someone

do one's best: try very hard

do one's bit: do what's needed

do someone good: be good for someone

do something behind someone's back: do (harmful) things secretively

down to earth: practical

draw the line: set a limit; impose a restriction

duty calls: must fulfill obligations

eat one's words: take back one's words

every now and then: occasionally

every other: every second one

fall in love (with): begin to love

fall out of love: stop loving

false alarm: untrue signal; untrue rumor

a far cry from something: not nearly as good

feel it in one's bones: expect something bad to happen

feel like doing something: want to do; be inclined to do something

few and far between: rare, scarce

find fault with someone or something: criticize; complain about

first things first: important things come before others

fly off the handle: get angry

follow in someone's footsteps: do the same thing

foot the bill: pay the bill

for good: forever

for the time being: for now; at this time

frame of mind: mental state

from now on: now and in the future

from the word go: from the very beginning

get a grip on oneself: take control of one's feelings

get carried away: get too excited and enthusiastic about something

get cold feet: be afraid to do something

get even with someone: have one's revenge

get in touch with someone: contact someone

get to the bottom of something: know deeply

get to the point: speak directly about the subject; come to the point

Give me a break!: Stop it! Enough!

give someone a hand: help someone

go back on one's word: break a promise

go from bad to worse: become much worse

go to pieces: get very upset; fall apart

go with the flow: lead a quiet life

have a ball: have a good time

have a bone to pick with someone: complain or discuss something unpleasant

have a sweet tooth: love eating sweet things

have a word with someone: talk to someone

have no business doing something: have no right to do something

have one's hands full: be very busy

hit the nail on the head: say exactly the right thing

hold one's tongue: keep silent; refrain from speaking

ill at ease: uncomfortable

in advance: well before

in cold blood: mercilessly

in fact: actually; in reality

in hot water: in trouble; in a difficult situation

in someone's shoes: in another person's position

in the long run: in the end

in the same boat: in the same situation

in the clear: free from blame

it goes without saying: should be clear without words

jump at the opportunity: accept the opportunity eagerly

just as soon: prefer; would rather

just in case: to be on the safe side

keep a straight face: try not to laugh

keep company: accompany

keep in mind: bear in mind; consider; remember

keep one's word: fulfill a promise

keep someone posted: inform someone

keep one's fingers crossed: hope that nothing will go wrong

kill time: fill time; spend empty time

know the ropes: be very familiar with some business

lay one's cards on the table: be frank and open

lay one's life on the line: put oneself in a dangerous situation

lead a dog's life: live in misery

leave word: leave a message

let go of something: release the hold

let one's hair down: be relaxed and informal with other people

let someone know: inform someone

like father, like son: be like one's parent in something

little by little: step by step; bit by bit; gradually

lose one's temper: become angry

lose one's way: get lost

lose track of someone: not to know where someone is

lucky break: a lucky chance

make a living: earn money to provide for life

make allowance(s) for something: take into consideration when judging

make a point of: be sure to do something intentionally

make friends: become friends

make fun of someone or something: laugh at; joke about

make room for someone: allow space for someone

make up one's mind: decide

make yourself at home: be comfortable; feel at home

mean well: have good intentions

might as well: maybe it's a good idea

never mind: don't worry about it

now and again: occasionally; now and then

off the cuff: without preparation

off the point: beside the point

off the record: not for the public; unofficially

once and for al l: decidedly

on credit: not having to pay cash right away

on edge: nervous, irritable

on guard: on the alert

on hand: available

on one hand/on the one hand: considering one side of the question

on one's toes: alert, attentive, prepared for difficulties

on purpose: intentionally

on second thought: after thinking again

on the alert: on guard

on the carpet: called in by the boss for criticism

on the go: on the move; busy, active

on the other hand: considering the other side of the question

on the spot: right there

on the spur of the moment: without previous thought or plan

on the tip of one's tongue: on the verge of saying but unable to remember

out of one's mind: crazy

out of one's way: away from one's usual route

out of the question: not to be considered; impossible

pack rat: a person who saves lots of unnecessary things

pay attention: note something; be attentive to something

pick a fight: start a quarrel

put one's foot down: object strongly

right away: immediately

ring a bell: remind someone of something familiar but half-forgotten

see red: become very angry

take a break: stop for rest

take it easy: relax; be calm

take something for granted: accept as given

take steps: take action; take measures

take time: take a long time

twist someone's arm: force someone to agree

under the weather: feeling a little ill, a little unwell

up-and-coming: showing promise of future success

up in the air: undecided, unsettled

up to date: modern, latest, current

walk on air: be very happy

waste one's breath: speak uselessly, to no purpose

watch one's step: behave prudently; be careful

white lie: unimportant lie

word for word: in the same words

English Idioms | Images

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Learn commonly used idioms in daily English conversations Learn commonly used idioms in daily English conversations above board: honest, open ad lib: improvise, interpolate after all: in spite of the situation; nevertheless against the grain: contrary to someone's feelings, principles all along: all the time all ears: eager to listen

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These wild spaces will put a smile on your face.

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Silent letters. Examples and spelling rules.

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Silent letters are letters that you can't hear when you say the word, but that are there when ... rules: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOJRRdnqBJ8

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Examples Of Various Ways To Invite Someone Out

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How to Invite Someone Out Using 3 Phrasal Verbs in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAP17-Q5FHw

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1. Exactly.

2. Totally.

3. Definitely.

4. Of course.

5. That's a good point.

6. You're absolutely right.

7. That's so true.

8. That's for sure.

9. I'm with you 100%.

10. I couldn't agree with you more.

11. I guess so.

12. I suppose.

13. Yes, I agree.

14. I think so too.

15. That's a (very) good point.

16. Oh yes, that's right.

17. I don't think so either.

18. That's true.

19. That's just what I was thinking.

20. That's exactly what I think.

21. I think you're right.

22. I hear you.

23. Yes, me too / me neither.

24. I totally agree with you

25. You're so very right!

26. You're reading my mind.

27. My view about this is positive.

28. I agree with this idea.

29. I agree completely with this idea.

30. I agree partially with this idea.

31. This idea is absolutely right.

32. This idea is partially right.

33. I couldn't agree more on this.

34. I think this idea is good.

1. I don't think I completely agree.

2. I'm not so sure about that.

3. I don't think that's the case.

4. That's not necessarily true.

5. No way!

6. Absolutely not!

7. Are you kidding me?

8. I see, but that's different.

9. Sorry, I don't agree with you.

10. I don't see it that way.

11. That's not entirely true.

12. That's partly true but...

13. I see your point but...

14. I'm sorry to disagree with you but...

15. Yes, but don't you think...?

16. I think that's not the same thing at all.

17. On the contrary...

18. Well, I'm not so sure about that.

19. Sorry, I think that's wrong.

20. Yeah, but the problem is that...

21. Well, I think it's not as simple as that.

22. I think this idea is impossible ...

23. I think this idea is possible, but......

24. I think this idea cannot be implemented.

25. I think you're totally wrong.

26. That doesn't make any sense.

27. Absolutely wrong.

28. I don't agree with this idea.

29. I think it is a bad idea.

30. I'm not sure that I agree with this idea.

31. The project is feasible, but ...

32. Yes, but ...

33. I'm afraid I have to disagree.

34. I'm sorry to disagree with you, but ...

35. I see things differently.

36. I tend to disagree with that idea.

37. I agree up to a point, however ...

38. You have a point there, but ...

39. You could be right, however ...

40. The idea is worth considering, but ...

41. Perhaps a weakness of this is that ...

42. I strongly disapprove of the plan.

43. I'm absolutely against the proposal.

How to Effectively Express Your Opinion | Image
How to effectively express your opinion | Image 1 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 2 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 3 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 4

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How to Effectively Express Your Opinion in an Argument

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1. Exactly. 2. Totally. 3. Definitely. 4. Of course. 5. That's a good point. 6. You're absolutely right. 7. That's so true. 8. That's for sure. 9. I'm with you 100%. 10. I couldn't agree with you more. 11. I guess so. 12. I suppose. 13. Yes, I agree. 14.

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Differences Between American and British English

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The three major differences between between American and British English are: Pronunciation - ... words which are different to American words.

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How to make someone's day: Give a compliment in English. Formulas for giving compliments.

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Formulas for Giving Compliments: Phrases for Giving Compliments:

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Useful Phrases for asking for help, asking someone's opinion and asking approval in English

We all need help sometimes. In English, it is not polite to ask directly. So there are many phrases that we can say before a request to 'soften' it:

Can you give me a hand with this?

Could you help me for a second?

Can I ask a favour?

I wonder if you could help me with this?

I could do with some help, please.

I can't manage. Can you help?

Give me a hand with this, will you?

Lend me a hand with this, will you?

Could you spare a moment?

I need some help, please.

Could you please help me out with...?

Would you mind showing me ...?

Is there any chance you have time to ...?

Could you please explain to me ...?

Please can you do me a favour?

Please help me with... .

Is it possible for you to ...?

I was wondering if you could please show me how to ....

Do you have any free time on/at ...(day, date, time)?

Do you know anything about ...?

I am having a problem with ... Do you think you can help me?

If you don't mind, I could really use your assistance with...?

If you don't mind, I really need your help with ...

I know your good at/with ..., and I really could use some help.

I heard you are really good at/with .... Is their any chance that you could help me?

Is their any chance you that you could give me a hand with...?

I heard that you have a lot of experience with ..., and I could really use your help.

What do you think of...?

What do you think about...?

How d'you feel (about...)?

What d'you reckon (about...)?

What's your opinion of...?

(What do think about) that?

What are your views on...?

Where do you stand (on...)?

What would you say to... / if we...?

Are you aware of.....?

Do you think ... ?

How do you feel about ... ?

In your opinion, ... ?

Please tell me your opinion on ...

What do you think about ... ?

What's your opinion on ... ?

Pre-intermediate

Can you give me your thoughts on ... ?

Do you (dis)approve of ... ?

Do you agree with the opinion that ... ?

Do you have any views on ... ?

Do you share the/my view that ... ?

If I asked your opinion about ... , ... ?

I'd like (to hear) your views on ...

I'm sure you'd agree that ...

What are your feelings about ... ?

What are your views on ... ?

From your point of view, ... ?

I know this is not your specialist subject, but ...

I know you haven't had long to think about this ...

I know you haven't had much time to think about this, but ...

I'd be (very) interested to hear your views on ...

What are your (first) thoughts on ... ?

What would be your reaction if I said ... ?

What's your position on ... ?

Would it be right to say ... ?

Would you support the view that ... ?

I imagine you will have strong opinions on ...

I'd guess your view on this is ...

Is it in fact the case that ... ?

What reaction do you have to ... ?

What's your take on ... ?

Would I be right in assuming that you think ... ?

Would I be right in saying ... ?

Would I/it be wrong to say ... ?

Would it be logical to say ... ?

Would you have any problems with the statement ... ?

Would ... be a fair summary of your views on ... ?

Would ... be out of the question?

You strike me as someone who would hold the opinion that ...

Sometimes we are not sure if it's a good idea to do something. So we need useful expressions for asking if other people agree with an idea or intended action.

Do you think it's all right to do it?

What do you think about (me doing that)?

Do you think / reckon I ought to (do it)?

What would you say if I (did it)?

Would you approve of (doing something)?

What is your attitude to the idea of...

Are you in favour of (me doing something)?

You are in favour of ... aren't you?

Do you think anyone would mind if I...

Would it be really awfuil if I...

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Asking for Help, Asking for Opinions & Asking for Approval - ESL Buzz

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Useful Phrases for asking for help, asking someone's opinion and asking approval in English We all need help sometimes. In English, it is not polite to ask directly. So there are many phrases that we can say before a request to 'soften' it: Can you give me a hand with this?

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This article discusses the benefits of using stories in language teaching and ideas of how to use stories in the classroom. The authors believe that stories can help solve the problems caused by limited resources and are good ways to teach culture. They describe types of stories and how they can be used in teaching speaking, listening, reading, writing, integrated skills, and critical thinking.

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English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 2

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This article discusses the benefits of using stories in language teaching and ideas of how to use stories in the classroom. The authors believe that stories can help solve the problems caused by limited resources and are good ways to teach culture.

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For many international students, moving to the United States can be daunting. Not only are they exposed to a myriad of unfamiliar customs, they are also bombarded with a myriad of unfamiliar American slang words. Because these words are often not included in a formal English education, it can be grueling for international students to grow accustomed to their widespread, and arguably excessive, use. Here's a run down on some of the most common slang. It will help you understand your friends better, it will help you fit in and of course it will help you avoid any more embarrassing situations.

Cool (adj) means 'great' or 'fantastic'. It also shows that you're okay with an idea.

"Okay, cool! I'll be there at 7:00"(okay with an idea)

"He passed the exam, Cool!"(means "great!")

To be beat (adj) If you hear a friend saying I'm beat, it means he or she is very tired or exhausted.
"Will you attend the football match with Tiger School?" "Sorry, I can't. I'm beat. I did not sleep last night"
Awesome (adj) like "Cool", it means "excellent", "great" or "remarkable". It can be used in a sentence or it could be used in a one word reply.

To hang out (verb) means to spend time doing nothing in particular.
"After this is over, do you want to go hang out?" "He hung out with his friends all day yesterday."
To Chill Out (verb) simply means to relax. Usually it can be used with or without the word 'out'. It also means to calm down.
"Since I'm between projects, I think I'll just chill out." "I wish I could chill out about the neighbor's barking dog, but it wakes me up every night."
Babe (noun)means an attractive person, especially a young woman. If you refer to someone as a babe, it means that you think they're hot and attractive.

To have a crush (on somebody) (verb) means being attracted to somebody and would like them to be more than just a friend.

"... The most common sign of having a crush is the feeling that you have a million butterflies flying around inside you when that special someone is around..."

To dump somebody (verb) means to stop having a romantic relationship with someone.
"Didn't you hear? David dumped Sophia last night" "Wow, I'm surprised. They always looked so happy together!"
Epic Fail (noun) means a 'total failure' or a "big disaster"
"ManU lost 6-1, can you believe it?"
Dunno simply means ' I don't know'.
"Where'd he go?"

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10 American Slang Words You Need to Know - ESL Buzz

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For many international students, moving to the United States can be daunting. Not only are they exposed to a myriad of unfamiliar customs, they are also bombarded with a myriad of unfamiliar American slang words. Because these words are often not included in a formal English education, it can be grueling for international students to grow accustomed to their widespread, and arguably excessive, use.

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Maybe you have also observed how common it is nowadays for students to not know how to have a conversation. Perhaps this owes to a preponderance of talk shows in which people with different opinions rarely listen to each other, instead preferring to out-shout their opponent. Maybe it is due to changed dinner habits where more families are eating on the go rather than sitting down together and catching up on each other's day. It could be about how texting and tweeting now trump talking and listening as today's preferred forms of communication.

8 Tips for Speaking and Listening

While it is impossible to know all of the reasons, there is no doubt that learning to listen and talk is an extremely important way to broaden knowledge, enhance understanding and build community. Perhaps this is why the core standards in English-language arts include an important emphasis on developing speaking and listening, the basic tools for conversation. The eight tips below can be used regularly to help your kids learn good conversational skills.
1. Model a Good Conversation
Make a point of having one-to-two minute interactions, one-on-one, at least a few times each week with students who struggle conversationally. Share information about yourself as you might when meeting a friend or acquaintance, and show interest in the student by asking questions about his or her interests. Conversation enhancers include responses and prompts like:

If these students don't or won't share easily at first, don't give up.
2. Encourage Physical Cues
Identify procedures for having a conversation that includes appropriate non-verbal behavior. For example, you might teach a strategy like S.L.A.N.T. ( Sit up straight. Listen. Answer and ask questions. Nod to show interest. T rack the speaker.)
3. Challenge Put-Downs or Hurtful Comments
For example, if a student says, "I think what she did was really stupid," challenge with "How else can you say that without being hurtful?" If the student seems unaware, teach an alternative like, "I disagree with that." Ask the student to repeat what you said and then move on to:

"What happened to make you feel that way?"

"How would you have handled things differently?"

"Do you think there is only right answer, or could there be more?"

4. Ask Open-Ended Questions
These are questions without one correct answer, questions that stimulate discussion and can be a very powerful way to reinforce the idea that there are different views of an issue, or a set of beliefs that can be equally valid. For example: "So if Columbus came knocking on your door and told you that sailing to the New World would be an amazing adventure and there might be lots of riches there, but you might never arrive because the world was flat, would you go?"
5. Put Thinking Ahead of Knowing
When asked a question, don't accept "I don't know." Tell students that you don't require them to "know" but that you do expect them to "think." Teach them how to wonder aloud, speculate, guess or give the best answer they can. ("I'm not sure about that, but I think _____ .")
6. Have Informal Chats
Before class begins or in the hallway, ask students about their other classes, what they think about a current event, or how they feel about the outcome of a game. Share your thoughts as well. ("I thought it was more that the Jets lost the game than anything the Eagles did to win. How did you see it?")
7. Make Eye Contact
When a student is speaking in class and you are listening, give him or her your eye contact. However, gradually scan away from the speaker and direct your gaze and movement towards other students. This will often get the speaker to redirect his or her talk toward peers, and it invites peers to get and stay involved with what's being said.
8. Encourage Turn-Taking
Use an object, such as a talking stick, as a signal for turn-taking. Teach your students that when they have the object, it is their turn to talk or pass while others are expected to listen.

How do you help your students become better speakers and listeners? Please share your strategies in the comments section below.

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Teaching Your Students How to Have a Conversation | Edutopia

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I was recently in a third grade classroom and was struck by the presence of rules that were posted for how to have a conversation. Having visited many middle and high schools, I think these same rules could -- and probably should -- be posted there as well.

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The word yes is great and all ... but there's plenty of other ways you can offer someone a verbal go-ahead. So if you feel like dipping your toes into the wild waters of alternative affirmations, then take a gander at the list below. If you're feeling brave, deploy an aye aye in a business meeting or let loose a fo' shizzle when someone asks if you'd like to go grab an ice cream. Let's have a look at other ways to say yes! (And then, once you're done, there are 29 ways to say no.)

1. yes

You can probably do better than this most standard of affirmations. The word yes, by the way, is exactly as old as you'd expect, dating all the way back to the Old English gēse, gīse, probably from an unrecorded phrase meaning 'may it be so'.

2. yea

If you want to inject an archaic flavour into your response, then give yea a try. It's also used as the response for an affirmative vote in the US Congress, so you can feel legislative as well as archaic!

3. OK

Referred to by some as America's greatest contribution to the English language, OK has a long and complicated history.

4. okey-dokey

The goofy younger brother of OK, okey-dokey is a surefire way to offer ad laidback, jokey affirmative.

5. by all means

By which means? All of them! This imploring affirmative suggests that 'yes' is being offered in every way possible. Don't forget about its negating cousin, by no means.

6. affirmative

One way to give an affirmation is, well, to just say affirmative! Largely a North American interjection, affirmative is also heard in the phrase 'in the affirmative', as in 'you answered in the affirmative when I asked about that ice cream'.

7. aye aye

You can almost hear the waves and taste the salty breeze when you use this one. This seaworthy affirmation is often heard in the fuller 'aye aye, Captain'. Of course, the shorter aye is more common, but far less seaworthy (and, well, fun).

8. roger

In radio communication, roger is used to acknowledge receipt of a message. In extended use, though, we've been deploying roger for quite some time. 'Can you go grab me an ice cream?' 'Roger!'

9. 10-4

If you've got that hankering for a radio reference, but roger doesn't quite suit you, then consider the brisk and official 10-4, which is part of the 'ten-code', the code of signals (all beginning with the number 10) originally used in police radio communication in the US and later adopted by Citizens' Band radio operators. The phrase means 'message received'.

10. uh-huh

The quintessential verbalized shrug, uh-huh conveys assent, but is also one of the more noncommittal ways to say yes.

11. righto

Ah! Here's an especially British way to go about it. Of course, you can leave off the 'o' on the end and leave it at 'right!', but how chipper does that sound in comparison? Not at all as chipper.

12. very well

Both very well and very good convey a flavour of acceptance rather than excitement. Can you hear that slight note of exasperation? 'Oh, very well then, come inside ...'

13. yup

Yup and its variation yep are such a joy to say because they all have that delightful plosive 'p'.

14. yuppers

Yuppers (and its cousin yeppers) boldly go for the extension. Perhaps best used when it comes to childish pursuits, as in: 'You want more cotton candy?!' 'Yuppers!'

15. right on

Feeling an overwhelming sense of approval? Then we recommend the hearty right on as a rejoinder.

16. ja

Used in South African English (drawn from Dutch), this 'yes' interjection is also found in German. This raucous affirmation is also sometimes spelled yah.

17. surely

Besides guiding the conversation straight into a thicket of Airplane! references, surely also does a fine job of imparting enthusiastic assent.

18. amen

Want to insert a little religious flavour into your response? Have a go with amen, which goes all the way back to the Hebrew word āmēn, meaning 'truth, certainty'. Usually uttered at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning 'so be it', amen is also used to express agreement or assent, sometimes in the form amen to that.

19. fo' shizzle

Do you dare? If you're feeling gutsy, drop fo' shizzle into your lexicon. Be warned, though, that shizzle on its own is typically a euphemism for 'shit'. The response for (or fo') shizzle, on the other hand, is roughly equivalent to for sure or definitely.

20. totally

You might risk sounding a little spaced-out with this one, but it's so totally worth the attempt.

21. sure

This is the response for someone who hemmed and hawed, but came down on the 'yes' side eventually.

22. yessir

Gender of the addressee aside, this reply can offer either deep-seated respect or canny insubordination.

If an affirmation isn't quite the interjection you're looking for, then you should also check out 34 interjections you should be using.

The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

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The word yes is great and all ... but there's plenty of other ways you can offer someone a verbal go-ahead. So if you feel like dipping your toes into the wild waters of alternative affirmations, then take a gander at the list below.

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One of the noted difficulties of English spelling is a high number of silent letters...

Learning to speak another language is hard enough, but students of English have to deal with further issues when they come to the written form of the language, and they soon find that English words do not always look exactly how they sound. In an alphabetic writing system, a silent letter is a letter that, in a particular word, does not correspond to any sound in the word's pronunciation.

Silent letters cause difficulties for both native speakers and English learners, because they make the spelling of words different from their pronunciation.

Silent Letters in English Words | Sounds of Silence
Here's a list of common words with silent letters in English
Silent Letters in English Words | Pictures

To summarize, English Language Learners may find some aspects of the spelling of English words to be challenging, maybe even confusing, particularly silent letters. The fact that silent letters are so prevalent should be reason enough for teachers to learn more about them. A combination of factors has influenced the English language and will most likely continue to do so. The silent letters often have a purpose, even though it might not be evident at first. At a minimum, this information can be beneficial in clearing up some confusion on why English words are spelled as they are. Identifying these problematic areas of the English language helps to better teach it to students in a way that makes sense to them.
NOTE

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Silent Letters in English Words - The Sounds of Silence - ESLBuzz Learning English

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One of the noted difficulties of English spelling is a high number of silent letters... Learning to speak another language is hard enough, but students of English have to deal with further issues when they come to the written form of the language, and they soon find that English words do not always look exactly how they sound.

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Money makes the world go round - every day we use it, think about it, talk about it. It is therefore no surprise that English uses it in a number of idiomatic expressions as well, but money also talks in other languages.

The people over at gocompare.com looked at some money idioms from other languages recently and came up with a series of illustrations that they kindly shared with us.

Dutch

Expression: buy something for an apple and an egg
Meaning: bought very cheap

French

Expression: to cost the skin of your buttocks
Meaning: to be expensive

Bulgarian

Expression: friendship is friendship, but cheese costs money
Meaning: don't take advantage of a friend's generosity

Spanish

Expression: eating a cable
Meaning: to be in financial difficulty

Russian

Expression: to fly through the chimney
Meaning: to go bankrupt

Welsh

Expression: to keep a hedgehog in your pocket
Meaning: to be cheap

German

Expression: to live like a maggot in bacon
Meaning: to have a luxurious lifestyle

Spanish

Expression: to have more wool than a lamb
Meaning: to have a lot of money

Swedish

Expression: to buy the pig in the bag
Meaning: buy/do something unseen

Italian

Expression: to have short arms
Meaning: cheap/tight fisted

Polish

Expression: to have a snake in your pocket
Meaning: to be cheap

French

Expression: to throw money through the windows
Meaning: to spare no expense

The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

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Cost in translation: money idioms around the world - OxfordWords blog

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Money makes the world go round - every day we use it, think about it, talk about it. It is therefore no surprise that English uses it in a number of idiomatic expressions as well, but money also talks in other languages.

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We've all heard a few hilarious, odd and (at times) useful foreign idioms ('Not my circus, not my monkeys', anyone?) and gain infinite amusement from translating them into English. But have you ever stopped to consider how strange our own English idioms can sound? The year abroad might just force you to confront our rather bizarre use of metaphors, especially if you use them within earshot of a non-native speaker...

1. Bob's your uncle 2. A different kettle of fish 3. Donkey's years 4. All mouth and no trousers 5. Pardon my French 6. Cat got your tongue? 7. Chew the fat 8. Under the weather 9. To go pear-shaped 10. A piece of cake 11. Damp squib 12. Cold turkey 13. My neck of the woods 14. Give someone stick 15. Send someone to Coventry 16. Thick as thieves 17. Throw a spanner in the works 18. Wipe the floor with someone 19. Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole 20. Pot calling the kettle black

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20 bizarre English idioms and how to explain them

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We've all heard a few hilarious, odd and (at times) useful foreign idioms ('Not my circus, not my monkeys', anyone?) and gain infinite amusement from translating them into English. But have you ever stopped to consider how strange our own English idioms can sound?

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Currying favour: this peculiar expression has a rather unexpected history. Our video gives you the facts.

Find out more about the origin of currying favour.

The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

Related posts

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Where does the expression 'currying favour' come from? - OxfordWords blog

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Currying favour: this peculiar expression has a rather unexpected history. Our video gives you the facts. Find out more about the origin of currying favour . The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

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Most Commonly Used English Phrases on the Phone - ESL Buzz

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Here are some common phrases and sentences you can use when speaking on the telephone...

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Is there a space between a and lot, or is the spelling alot OK?

What's the difference between away and a way?

If you've ever pondered over questions similar to these, the dilemma of 'two words or one?' is one which you'll have grappled with when putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. On the other hand, this may be an issue that has so far slipped beneath your radar, and you're confident about when to hit the space bar or leave a gap on the page.

Do you belong in the first group of puzzled people? There appears to be much confusion about when to write certain fixed expressions as one word or two. There are 2,261 occurrences of abit on the 3-billion-word Oxford English Corpus (OEC), and 5,789 of alot. Here are a couple of examples:

X Michelle is gorgeous, but looks abit strange here.
X There is alot of truth to that statement.

As you can see from the big X, abit and alot, however frequently they are now occurring, are not yet acceptable spellings. The correct form is the two-word one:

✔ Michelle is gorgeous, but looks a bit strange here.
✔ There is a lot of truth to that statement.

Two become one...and vice versa

Abit and alot are just a couple of examples which are indicative of a wider linguistic trend: common fixed expressions which should be written as two separate words are increasingly appearing as a single word. It's not restricted to combinations of the indefinite article ( a or an) with a noun, either. There are other phrases showing the same development, for example:

X I can't wait to see what this year has instore for us.
X I got no support from the NHS atall.
X The screenplay in the later part of the film wasn't upto the mark.
X You get my lifetime achievement award vote anyday!

When I researched this topic, I was surprised to find that upto and anyday occur 5,311 and 926 times on the OEC respectively. However, this isn't the time or place to start wringing our hands and blaming the Internet or falling educational standards for the decline in 'correct' spelling. The shift from two- (or three-) word expressions to one-word spellings isn't in the least bit recent. The historical evidence from the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) shows that many of today's single-word forms, such as forever, tomorrow, instead, nonetheless, somewhat, whatsoever, and notwithstanding, were all originally written as two or more separate components.

The fusing of two-word expressions appears to be particularly strong in American English, where it's standard practice to write underway, anymore, or someday as one word, for example, whereas the two-word forms are still the norm in British English.

Is aswell a word?

There's also a weaker trend, in the opposite direction, from one-word forms to two. Current expressions such as all over, young man, as much, and as well were often written as one word in the Middle Ages or later. Today, it's not likely that you'd see aswell in writing as a single word. Additionally, words such as along and away are appearing as a long and a way.

All of which is ample proof that, in all aspects, from orthography to grammar, language is constantly on the move. Any standard English spelling that's acceptable during a particular period of time or in a particular region may eventually pass outside the norm, simply because it's been replaced by a different form that's become dominant in terms of overall usage.

Along or a long; away or a way?

So does word division really matter, as long as people understand what you've written? I think it depends: in the case of abit and alot, the one-word form means exactly the same as the two-word one*, so readers, while perhaps being slightly peeved by the spelling error, know what is meant.

The situation becomes more confusing in cases where there is both a one-word and a two-word form in existence, but each form has different meanings and grammatical functions. In this situation, it's far more important to get it right, as spelling errors may lead to misunderstandings. Take along (a preposition and adverb) and a long (the indefinite article a and the adjective long) for example. Are the bold words in these two sentences written correctly?

? Anyone with a good eye would have noticed it along time ago.
? They shielded each other from the rain as they walked a long the street.

Here's another pair, using away (an adverb and adjective) and a way (the indefinite article a and the noun way):

? I reinstalled the program but the problem did not go a way.
? He had always found away to make her mad at him.

If you thought all four examples were incorrect, you were absolutely spot on!

Let's look at along versus a long first. The key to whether you write the one-word form or the two-word one depends on knowing what role the expression plays in a sentence. In this case, the preposition along (meaning 'forward', 'towards the other end of', etc.) makes no sense: what is required is the adjective long preceded by a:

Anyone with a good eye would have noticed it along time ago.
✔ Anyone with a good eye would have noticed it a long time ago.

This holds true for the other example. When you analyse the sentence, it's clear that a long the street is nonsense: you need the preposition along because it means 'towards the other end of':

They shielded each other from the rain as they walked a long the street.
✔ They shielded each other from the rain as they walked along the street.

We can apply exactly the same analytical process to away and a way. This sentence is incorrect because the phrase did not go a way makes no sense at all:

I reinstalled the program but the problem did not go a way.

Replace that with the adverb away, here meaning 'until something no longer exists' and all is clear:

✔ I reinstalled the program but the problem did not go away.

Conversely, you can only make sense of... found away to make her mad... by using the noun phrase a way (meaning 'a method') rather than the adverb away:
✔ He had always found a way to make her mad at him.
A final tip

There are many other examples where confusion is rife: I'll discuss some more (such as everyday/ every day, any one/ anyone, and instore/ in store) in a future blog. For now, I'll sign off with this simple advice: If you're unsure, think carefully about your meaning, and *always* use a dictionary, as spellcheckers aren't 100% reliable.

*Of course, the expression a lot should never be confused with the verb allot, which means 'to give a share or portion to someone or something' and is always written as one word, with two l's:

I allot time for everything in a disciplined way.

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Alot, along, and away? Or a lot, a long, and a way? - OxfordWords blog

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Is there a space between a and lot, or is the spelling alot OK? What's the difference between away and a way? If you've ever pondered over questions similar to these, the dilemma of 'two words or one?' is one which you'll have grappled with when putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

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Começou o projecto em 2014 e desde então não tem parado. Na altura, em jeito de trabalho de mestrado - em Ilustração e Animação, no Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave -, Raquel Fernandes estava longe de imaginar que as Histórias Sem Interesse iriam fazer parte da sua vida durante vários anos. Sempre gostou de "escrever pequenas histórias, criar personagens e bonecos", confessa ao P3, e ilustra agora o que de mais caricato lhe acontece em casa, na rua ou simplesmente no autocarro - isto com o Porto, a cidade onde nasceu, sempre como pano de fundo.

"O projecto é sobre as minhas vivências, o meu dia-a-dia e as influências da minha família, dos meus amigos e do que me vai acontecendo", explica a ilustradora. "É mesmo autobiográfico." As personagens, conta, são baseadas nos amigos e na família. "Claro que são exageradas. Às vezes dizem-me 'Raquel, mas eu não sou assim" e eu respondo que têm de ter calma, porque são bonecos." E as ideias surgem do que lhe vai acontecendo. Aponta, desenha, faz a composição e cria o cartoon - e Quica, o seu alter-ego, repete a experiência, desta vez no papel. "E depois adapta-se, especialmente no humor, para ter sempre mais um bocadinho de piada."

Raquel ( Sem Interesse) vê nas várias feiras que frequenta uma oportunidade de divulgar as ilustrações - e chega, inclusive, a publicar, quinzenalmente, uma tira no Correio do Porto. "Tem sido um processo vagaroso", refere a ilutradora de 28 anos. "Aos bocadinhos vou tendo algum feedback e incentivos para que não pare, para que continue a fazer as histórias." Já tentou apresentar o projecto a algumas editoras, mas até agora ainda não teve feedback positivo. "Tudo tem sido financiado por mim. Por isso, sim, é um projecto que faço nos meus tempos livres, à parte da minha profissão."

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"Histórias Sem Interesse", mas com muito para contar | P3

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Começou o projecto em 2014 e desde então não tem parado. Na altura, em jeito de trabalho de mestrado - em Ilustração e Animação, no Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave -, Raquel Fernandes estava longe de imaginar que as Histórias Sem Interesse iriam fazer parte da sua vida durante vários anos.

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An interjection is an exclamatory word (or words) that shows weak, mild, or strong feeling and has no grammatical function in the construction of a sentence.

An interjection is a part of speech that shows the emotion or feeling of the author. These words or phrases can stand alone or be placed before or after a sentence. Many times an interjection is followed by a punctuation mark, often an exclamation point.

#1

List of English Interjections and their Meaning

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What are Interjections - And How Do You Use Them? - ESL Buzz

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An interjection is an exclamatory word (or words) that shows weak, mild, or strong feeling and has no grammatical function in the construction of a sentence. An interjection is a part of speech that shows the emotion or feeling of the author. These words or phrases can stand alone or be placed before or after a sentence.

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"Learn English" provides daily lessons, tips and resources to help adults learn and practice English.

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Giving/Asking opinion: Agreeing/disagreeing with an opinion:

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There is an altogether different version of English being spoken Down Under. Thanks to "Crocodile" Dundee, lots of non-Aussies are familiar with some of the slang, including (an interjection expressing surprise), (an informal term for a girl or woman), and (an abbreviation of barbecue). But there is so much more to the language variation than what you've heard from Paul Hogan.

How familiar are you with the version of English spoken down under? Try your luck at this Australian English quiz!

The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

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How good is your Australian English? - OxfordWords blog

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There is an altogether different version of English being spoken Down Under. Thanks to "Crocodile" Dundee, lots of non-Aussies are familiar with some of the slang, including (an interjection expressing surprise), (an informal term for a girl or woman), and (an abbreviation of barbecue).

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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It was proven by scientists a long time ago that riddles not only improve your memory but they also increase your thinking skills. And it's not only children who can benefit from solving them since they are useful for adults, as well.

Bright Side gathered 9 mind-bending riddles that will help you boost your thinking abilities and also improve your attention span.

9. Which glass has more water?
Click to see the answer.
8. Can you find all these things in the picture?
Click to see the answer.
7. Which figure should replace the question mark?
Click to see the answer.
6. Can you find a totally symmetrical cross in this picture?
Click to see the answer.
5. One of the spirals consists of 2 separate parts. Can you tell which one?
Click to see the answer.
4. A perfect 4-pointed star, like the one at the top of this picture, is hidden among the squares and triangles. Can you find it?
Click to see the answer.
3. In this picture, there are 4 hearts that are joined together. Can you find them?
Click to see the answer.
2. Which way is the bus moving?
Click to see the answer.
1. Teapot А can contain 32 cups of tea. How many cups of tea can teapot В contain?
Click to see the answer.
Which riddle did you find to be the most difficult? Share your answers in the comments!

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9 Riddles That Can Boost Your Thinking Skills

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It was proven by scientists a long time ago that riddles not only improve your memory but they also increase your thinking skills. And it's not only children who can benefit from solving them since they are useful for adults, as well.

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Embrace your inner geekiness. Your English teacher would be proud!

Whether you're an English teacher, reading specialist, or just a grammar nerd, we get you. Much of the WeAreTeachers staff are self-proclaimed grammar junkies, and we embrace it. Don't ask us about the Oxford comma, though. We're a divided group on that one. However, we can all agree that these grammar puns and jokes are funny. Print them, put them up in your classroom, or just share with a teacher BFF who is just as nerdy!

1. Now don't be selfish.

2. Apostrophes can haunt you.

Via: Jon Kudelka

3. It's a pun for when you're feeling tense.

4. This could end (or start) a punctuation argument.

5. One letter can make a big difference.

Via: Shoe Box Blog

6. You can't go wrong with alphabet puns.

7. This might be the best bar joke EVER!

8. Just say no to unnecessary quotation marks.

9. Good morning, sunshine!

10. This joke will multiply your students' love of math.

Via: unearthedcomics.com

11. Now things are heating up!

Via: Trashlands

12. We love Apostrophe Man.

Via: Judy Horacek

13. Why can't everyone just get along?

Via: Scott Hillburn

14. Everyone loves a good knock-knock joke.

15. Some things you can't control.

Via: wronghands1.com

16. This one is for fans of The Office.

17. We'll retell this joke until we're undone.

18. There's a lesson to be learned here.

19. Some things cannot be avoided.

20. Does this make you hungry?

Via: someecards

21. A little courtroom humor is always appreciated.

22. This one is too much.

23. Yeah, yeah, we know.

24. Awww, it's punctuation confusion.

25. This is for those who like to fly under the radar.

26. It's a real pain in the ...

27. It's grammar girl power!

Via: Grammarly Cards

28. This will make your teacher proud.

29. It's party time in the English teachers' lounge.

30. Can you relate?

31. Hurry it up!

32. One last pun for good measure.
Come share your favorite grammar puns in our WeAreTeachers Chat group on Facebook! WeAreTeachers Chat is a place to post questions, share a laugh or an idea, and connect with new teacher friends.

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32 Puns and Jokes Only a True Grammar Nerd Will Get

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Embrace your inner geekiness. Your English teacher would be proud! Whether you're an English teacher, reading specialist, or just a grammar nerd, we get you. Much of the WeAreTeachers staff are self-proclaimed grammar junkies, and we embrace it. Don't ask us about the Oxford comma, though. We're a divided group on that one.

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Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually. They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang...

Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually.
They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang.

For example, "gonna" is a short form of "going to". If you say "going to" very fast, without
carefully pronouncing each word, it can sound like "gonna".

Please remember that these are informal contractions. That means that we do not use them in
"correct" speech, and we almost never use them in writing. (If you see them in writing, for
example in a comic strip, that is because the written words represent the spoken words or
dialogue.) We normally use them only when speaking fast and casually, for example with
friends. Some people never use them, even in informal speech.

It is probably true to say that informal contractions are more common in American English.
Also note that, unlike normal contractions, we do not usually use apostrophes (') with informal
contractions when written.

For example:

or

These informal contractions are not "correct" English. Do not use them in a written exam, for
example, except in appropriate situations.

ain't = am not/are not/is not
You ain't my boss. I ain't done it. She ain't finished yet.

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Do You Want to Speak English Faster? - ESL Buzz

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Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually. They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang... Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually.They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang.

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1. Exactly.

2. Totally.

3. Definitely.

4. Of course.

5. That's a good point.

6. You're absolutely right.

7. That's so true.

8. That's for sure.

9. I'm with you 100%.

10. I couldn't agree with you more.

11. I guess so.

12. I suppose.

13. Yes, I agree.

14. I think so too.

15. That's a (very) good point.

16. Oh yes, that's right.

17. I don't think so either.

18. That's true.

19. That's just what I was thinking.

20. That's exactly what I think.

21. I think you're right.

22. I hear you.

23. Yes, me too / me neither.

24. I totally agree with you

25. You're so very right!

26. You're reading my mind.

27. My view about this is positive.

28. I agree with this idea.

29. I agree completely with this idea.

30. I agree partially with this idea.

31. This idea is absolutely right.

32. This idea is partially right.

33. I couldn't agree more on this.

34. I think this idea is good.

1. I don't think I completely agree.

2. I'm not so sure about that.

3. I don't think that's the case.

4. That's not necessarily true.

5. No way!

6. Absolutely not!

7. Are you kidding me?

8. I see, but that's different.

9. Sorry, I don't agree with you.

10. I don't see it that way.

11. That's not entirely true.

12. That's partly true but...

13. I see your point but...

14. I'm sorry to disagree with you but...

15. Yes, but don't you think...?

16. I think that's not the same thing at all.

17. On the contrary...

18. Well, I'm not so sure about that.

19. Sorry, I think that's wrong.

20. Yeah, but the problem is that...

21. Well, I think it's not as simple as that.

22. I think this idea is impossible ...

23. I think this idea is possible, but......

24. I think this idea cannot be implemented.

25. I think you're totally wrong.

26. That doesn't make any sense.

27. Absolutely wrong.

28. I don't agree with this idea.

29. I think it is a bad idea.

30. I'm not sure that I agree with this idea.

31. The project is feasible, but ...

32. Yes, but ...

33. I'm afraid I have to disagree.

34. I'm sorry to disagree with you, but ...

35. I see things differently.

36. I tend to disagree with that idea.

37. I agree up to a point, however ...

38. You have a point there, but ...

39. You could be right, however ...

40. The idea is worth considering, but ...

41. Perhaps a weakness of this is that ...

42. I strongly disapprove of the plan.

43. I'm absolutely against the proposal.

How to Effectively Express Your Opinion | Image
How to effectively express your opinion | Image 1 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 2 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 3 How to effectively express your opinion | Image 4

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How to Effectively Express Your Opinion in an Argument

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1. Exactly. 2. Totally. 3. Definitely. 4. Of course. 5. That's a good point. 6. You're absolutely right. 7. That's so true. 8. That's for sure. 9. I'm with you 100%. 10. I couldn't agree with you more. 11. I guess so. 12. I suppose. 13. Yes, I agree. 14.

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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Photos shown in this article are witnesses to the most important events in history. They are imbued with the atmospheres of different eras that will never happen again. With the help of these shots, we can make short trips to the past to cherish every captured moment and feel a witness to these big events.

Bright Side collected a new list of archive photos. Before you make a leap to the past, get yourself a cup of hot tea to make your trip more comfortable.

35. Irish children jeer at British troops in Derry, Northern Ireland, 1972

34. Helen, an American Indian telephone and switchboard operator, Montana, 1925

33. French soldiers eat at a police station in Neuvilly after spending days in the trenches in heavy rain, 1915.

32. Muhammad Ali Vs. Cleveland Williams. Ali won the bout through a technical knockout in the third round, 1966

31. Nazi rally in the Cathedral of Light, 1937

30. Kurt Cobain having a smoke with Ronald McDonald in Singapore, 1992

29. North American B-25s are pictured flying past Mount Vesuvius in Italy as lava and ash spew from the top of the erupting volcano, 1944

28. Trench Warfare. Photo was taken by an official British Photographer during World War I,1917

27. Lt. Custer & Union Troops,1862 (colorized)

26. Ebony Magazine ran a feature called, "What They May Look Like In The Year 2000." Here's Michael Jackson's future portrait, 1985

25. Young Pioneers Defence, Leningrad, 1937

24. JFK's funeral at the Capitol, November 1963

23. Mississippi's First Interracial Couple, August 3, 1970

22. The Greensboro sit-ins. A series of nonviolent protests in Greensboro, North Carolina, 1960

21. Roza Georgiyevna Shanina was one of the best Soviet snipers, 1943

20. Men celebrating the end of prohibition, December 5, 1933

19. Ruth Lee, a hostess at a Chinese restaurant, flies a Chinese flag so she isn't mistaken for Japanese when she sunbathes on her days off in Miami, Dec. 15, 1941 (Colorized)

18. Rally against Nazism in New York, Madison Square Garden, 1937

17. The first man to walk on the Moon - Neil Armstrong lights a cigar, March 1969

16. Thanksgiving on the frontline, World War 2 (colorized)

15. Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin on the set of City Lights, September 24, 1929 (colorized)

14. The crowd in Times Square, New York City celebrating the surrender of Germany, May 7th, 1945.

13. "Jewish Market" New York, Upper Eastside, 1895 (colored photo)

12. Hiroshima, before and after the atomic bombing on August 6th, 1945

11. A German World War I U-boat stranded on the south coast of England after the surrender, 1918

10. Portrait of a bride and groom; the hat is adorned with feathers for luck, Kraków, Poland.

9. View of Boston, the oldest surviving aerial photograph ever taken, October 13th, 1860

8. A girl trying to cut a sunbeam, 1886

7. This Chicago mother hides her face from cameras as she puts a "4 Children For Sale" in her front yard.

6. A Muslim woman covers the yellow star of her Jewish neighbor with her veil to protect her, Sarajevo, 1941.

5. The day of Reich's veterans, 1939

4. Boy receiving a new pair of shoes at an orphanage in Austria, 1946

3. Hotel owner pouring acid in the pool while black people swim in it, California, 1964

2. Anne Frank's father Otto, revisiting the attic where they hid from the Nazis, 1960

1. Captured flags of the defeated Third Reich being displayed during the victory parade in Red Square, Moscow, June 24, 1945

Which of these photos impressed you the most? Why? Please share your opinion in the comments!

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35 Astounding Historical Photos That Shed Light on the Past

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Photos shown in this article are witnesses to the most important events in history. They are imbued with the atmospheres of different eras that will never happen again. With the help of these shots, we can make short trips to the past to cherish every captured moment and feel a witness to these big events.

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Knowing more than one language is great for your brain. But what's the best way to learn? TED's Open Translation Project volunteers share 7 tips:

1. Get real. Decide on a simple, attainable goal to start with so that you don't feel overwhelmed. German translator Judith Matz suggests: "Pick up 50 words of a language and start using them on people - and then slowly start picking up grammar."

2. Make language-learning a lifestyle change. Elisabeth Buffard has been teaching English for 27 years. She says that consistency is what separates the most successful students from the rest. Find a language habit that you can follow even when you're tired, sick or madly in love.

3. Play house with the language. The more you invite a foreign language into your daily life, the more your brain will consider it something worth remembering. "Use every opportunity to get exposed to the new language," says Russian translator Olga Dmitrochenkova. For example, you might label objects in your house in the language, read kids' books written in it, or watch subtitled TED-Ed Originals.

4. Let technology help you out. Dmitrochenkova has a great idea: "A funny thing like resetting the language on your phone can help you learn new words right away," she says. Ditto for changing the language on your browser. Or you can seek out more structured learning opportunities online. Dutch translator Els De Keyser recommends Duolinguo for its approach to grammar, and Anki for memorizing vocabulary with its "intelligent" flashcards.

5. Think about language-learning as a gateway to new experiences. To Spanish translator Sebastián Betti, learning a language has always been about focusing on the experiences that the new language would open up, from "visiting theme parks, to enjoying cowboy poetry and folk-rock festivals, to learning about photo-essay techniques." In other words, he thinks of fun things that he wanted to do anyway, and makes them into a language-learning opportunity. Many of our translators shared this advice. For example, Italian and French translator Anna Minoli learned English by watching undubbed versions of her favorite movies, while Croatian translator Ivan Stamenković suddenly realized he could speak English in fifth grade, after years of watching the Cartoon Network without subtitles. So the next time you need a vegan carrot cake recipe, find one in the language you're trying to learn.

6. Make new friends. Interacting in the new language is key - it will teach you to intuitively express your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before you say it. Find native speakers near you. Or search for foreign penpals or set up a language tandem online, where two volunteers help one another practice their respective languages.

7. Do not worry about making mistakes. One of the most common barriers to conversing in a new language is the fear of making mistakes. But native speakers are like doting parents: any attempt from you to communicate in their language is objective proof that you are a gifted genius. They'll appreciate your effort and even help you. Nervous about holding a conversation with a peer? Try testing your language skills with someone a little younger. "I was stoked when I was chatting with an Italian toddler and realized we had the same level of Italian," recalls German translator Judith Matz. And be patient. The more you speak, the closer you'll get to the elusive ideal of "native-like fluency." And to talking to people your own age.

This article was adapted for TED-Ed from a TED Blog post. For more great articles, subscribe to the TED-Ed Newsletter.

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How to learn a new language: 7 tips from TED Translators

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Knowing more than one language is great for your brain. But what's the best way to learn? TED's Open Translation Project volunteers share 7 tips: Get real. Decide on a simple, attainable goal to start with so that you don't feel overwhelmed.

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On a recent program, we told you the stories of English words borrowed from other languages. Today, we will tell you about words that English has taken from Chinese.

Many of the Chinese words that are now part of English were borrowed long ago. They are most often from Cantonese or other Chinese languages rather than Mandarin.

Let's start with kowtow.
kowtow
The English word kowtow is a verb that means to agree too easily to do what someone else wants you to do, or to obey someone with power in a way that seems weak.

It comes from the Cantonese word kau tau, which means "knock your head." It refers to the act of kneeling and lowering one's head as a sign of respect to superiors - such as emperors, elders and leaders. In the case of emperors, the act required the person to touch their head to the ground.

In 1793, Britain's King George III sent Lord George Macartney and other trade ambassadors to China to negotiate a trade agreement. The Chinese asked them to kowtow to the Qianlong Emperor. As the story goes, Lord Macartney refused for his delegation to do more than bend their knees. He said that was all they were required to do for their own king.

It is not surprising, then, that Macartney left China without negotiating the trade agreement.

After that, critics used the word kowtow when anyone was too submissive to China. Today, the usage has no connection to China, nor any specific political connection.
gung-ho
Another borrowed word that came about through contact between two nations is gung-ho.

In English, the word gung-ho is an adjective that means extremely excited about doing something. The Chinese characters "gōng" and "hé" together mean "work together, cooperate."

The original term -- gōngyè hézuòshè -- means Chinese Industrial Cooperatives. The organizations were established in the 1930s by Westerners in China to promote industrial and economic development.

Lt. Colonel Evans Carlson of the United States Marine Corps observed these cooperatives while he was in China. He was impressed, saying "...all the soldiers dedicated themselves to one idea and worked together to put that idea over."

He then began using the term gung-ho in the Marine Corps to try to create the same spirit he had witnessed. In 1942, he used the word as a training slogan for the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion during World War II. The men were often called the "Gung Ho Battalion." From then, the word gung-ho spread as a slogan throughout the Marine Corps. Today, its meaning has no relation to the military.
typhoon
In English, a typhoon is a very powerful and destructive storm that occurs around the China Sea and in the South Pacific.

The word history of typhoon had a far less direct path to the English language than gung-ho. And not all historical accounts are the same.

But, according to the Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories, the first typhoons reported in the English language were in India and were called "touffons" or "tufans."

The word tufan or al-tufan is Arabic and means violent storm or flood. The English came across this word in India and borrowed it as touffon.

Later, when English ships encountered violent storms in the China Sea, Englishmen learned the Cantonese word tai fung, which means "great wind." The word's similarity to touffon is only by chance.

The modern form of the word - typhoon - was influenced by the Cantonese but respelled to make it appear more Greek.
kumquat
A kumquat is a fruit that looks like a small orange. It is native to South Asia and the Asia-Pacific.

The word kumquat comes from the Cantonese word kam-kwat or gām-gwāt, meaning "golden orange." Gām means "golden" and gwāt means "citrus fruit" or "orange." The word also refers to the plant that carries this fruit.

In 1846, a collector for the London Horticultural Society introduced kumquats to Europe. Not long after, the fruit found its way to North America.
chow
Another food-related word from Chinese is chow. The English word chow is slang for "food." American English speakers also use the phrasal verb "chow down," which can mean to eat something quickly and without good manners.

It comes from the Cantonese verb ch'ao, which means "to stir-fry" or "to cook."

The American English usage of the word chow as "food" dates back to 1856 in California. Chinese laborers built the railroads in that state. Back then, the word mainly referred to Chinese food. Today it refers to all kinds of food.
ketchup
Most Americans would have a hard time believing that ketchup was not created right here in the U-S-A.

Ketchup is America's most popular condiment. But, as VOA Learning English reported last year, the story of ketchup began more than 500 years ago in Southeast Asia.

The word ketchup most likely comes from the word ke-tsiap, from a Chinese dialect called Amoy. The word originally referred to a type of sauce made from mixing pickled fish with spices.

And, historians say, the sauce was probably first created ina Chinese community in northern Vietnam. Later, this sauce would reach Indonesia and be called kecap.

The word first met the English language in the late 17th century, when a British colony in Indonesia came into contact with this sauce.

Back in England, the English first used the word to refer to many types of sauces.

Later, English settlers brought ketchup with them to the American colonies, but the condiment did not contain tomatoes until the mid-19th century.

Join us again soon to learn the history of English words borrowed from other languages.

I'm Pete Musto. And I'm Alice Bryant.
Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
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Quiz
Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz.
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Words in This Story

kneel - v. to be in a position in which both of your knees are on the floor

superior - n. a person of higher rank or status than another

submissive - adj. willing to obey someone else

original - adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning

promote - v. to help something happen, develop or increase

dedicate - v. to use time, money, energy or attention for something)

slogan - n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used by a group or business to attract attention

horticultural - adj. related to the science of growing fruits, vegetables and flowers

pickled - adj. preserved with salt water or vinegar

condiment - n. something (such as salt, mustard, or ketchup) that is added to food to give it more flavor

sauce - n. a thick liquid that is eaten with or on food to add flavor to it

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Some Very 'American' Words Come from Chinese

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On a recent program, we told you the stories of English words borrowed from other languages. Today, we will tell you about words that English has taken from Chinese. Many of the Chinese words that are now part of English were borrowed long ago.

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Classroom discussions have been a staple of teaching forever, beginning with Socrates. I have taught using discussions, been a student in discussions, and observed other teachers' discussions thousands of times -- at least. Some have been boring, stifling or tedious enough to put me to sleep. Others have been so stimulating that I was sad to see them end. The difference between the two is obviously how interesting the topic is, but equally important is the level of student participation.

It's not enough for students to simply pay attention -- they need to be active participants to generate one of those great discussions that end far too quickly for both the teacher and students. The worst types of discussions are serial one-on-one talk between a student and teacher, leaving the rest of the class out of the process. Many students stop listening, begin to fade or disengage during this flawed procedure.

The best discussions keep everyone active, either by sharing or thinking. Even those students who rarely, if ever, contribute can still participate in other ways. Here are five of my favorite ways to design discussions in a dynamic and exciting manner.

1. Lightning Rounds

Just the name "lightning round" suggests energy. Make it even more dramatic by playing up the concept of speed, fun and excitement. Have your discussion questions prepared in advance so that you can ask them faster. Short-answer questions obviously work best for this technique. Students have 30 seconds (or a more appropriate time for your particular class) to answer. They can either answer or pass -- and no negativity is associated with passing. Ask the questions rapidly while growing the anticipation for each next question by imitating quiz show lightning rounds: "Are you ready for the next question? Here it comes." Ask the question before calling on a student so that all students must be ready to answer. The lightning round should take no longer than ten minutes, the approximate time that the energy begins to diminish.

2. Throw the Ball

When you ask a discussion question, call on students by letting them catch a ball. With young children, you can use a beach ball and roll it to students in a circle. Older students can catch a beach ball or nerf football. This way of calling on students can either be a lot of fun and full of energy, or it can be a disaster. Be sure to keep the throwing distance short enough to prevent chaos. Make the rules clear and stop if they are broken:

Do not intercept the ball.

Do not throw the ball at another student.

Do not try to break anything in the class with the ball.

In spite of the potential danger with using a ball, I have seen this done with much success and great student involvement. A variation that is safer and fun for grades 1-3 is to pass a teddy bear to the student who will answer the next question.

3. Group Answers

Two commonly used discussion techniques can be put together to allow a discussion that involves everybody at the same time. One is to form small groups of about three students. When the teacher asks a discussion question, every group has a small discussion of its own to come up with an answer. Questions of complexity work best with this method. Add to that the use of small cards with each having a method of group identification. After allowing enough time for each group to develop its answer, randomly pick a card and let that group give their answer. You can pick more than one card for each question. When the answer has been completed, put the used card back in the deck, so that no group can relax and think that their turn is over.

4. Agreements

Keep each question going longer by engaging more students in the discussion. When the first student answers a question, ask another student if he or she agrees or disagrees with that answer. Then ask another student, and keep going until at least five students have participated in each question.

5. Questionnaires

A fun way to discuss famous people or fictional characters is to choose someone you are studying. Divide the class into groups of two or three, and have each group come up with three to five questions they would like to ask that person in an interview style. All group members should agree on all the questions. Each group then passes their questions to another group so that all groups have someone else's questions. Each group then has the task of answering one question in writing, with full agreement, and in a way they imagine the person might answer. Papers are changed until all questions are answered. Then encourage each group to share their questions and the answers they received.

One final point about good discussions: most students can easily hear the teacher, but depending on room arrangement, it can often be difficult for students to hear each other. Have you ever tried to follow a press conference on television when you could not hear the question, only the answer? Our response ranges from frustration to giving up listening. Be sure to repeat student answers if any class member can't hear it.

I'm sure that every reader has either a variation of these discussion methods or some great ones of your own. I hope that many of you are willing to add yours to my humble list. Let's create a dynamic discussion of ideas in this space.

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5 Ways to Make Class Discussions More Exciting | Edutopia

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Classroom discussions have been a staple of teaching forever, beginning with Socrates. I have taught using discussions, been a student in discussions, and observed other teachers' discussions thousands of times -- at least. Some have been boring, stifling or tedious enough to put me to sleep.

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World of Better Learning | Cambridge University Press

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Published 23 February 2018

A key part of speaking practice is providing feedback to learners - but how much should you give? Research Manager, Niall Curry, introduces our latest Cambridge research paper by Philip Kerr on this very subject.

In every classroom, for every context, age group or purpose, we as teachers have to make choices. With students increasingly identifying that speaking in English is what they find most difficult, the choices that we make around speaking are important. What we're talking about here is giving feedback on speaking in the English language classroom. And choices around giving feedback. This is what Philip Kerr discusses in his paper on ' Giving Feedback on Speaking Whitepaper '.

What do teachers need to consider before giving feedback?

Broadly speaking, making decisions about what feedback to give can be guided by the purpose of the task. For example, are we looking to develop fluency or accuracy with the task? We know there is evidence that fluency tasks, like discussions or debates, can also develop accuracy. We also know that the learning opportunities associated with fluency tasks, such as gains in self-confidence and opportunities to use more complex language, are valuable to teachers and learners. However, managing fluency tasks successfully in order to ensure these benefits are realised is an important challenge for teachers. One that knowledge of feedback strategies can help us surmount.

When we think of feedback, we likely think of the teacher giving feedback to students, which is, of course, a valuable exchange. However, there are also ways for learners to get feedback from each other, which, in fact, can be more valuable. Moreover, we can see silence as feedback, where the absence of language can tell us something about the gaps in students' knowledge.

When we think of feedback, we also likely think of correction. But is there a case for giving positive feedback? The research would indicate that yes, it does hold value. There is evidence of the correlation between both corrective and positive feedback and learning. In fact, it is argued that combining positive reinforcement with corrective feedback can be an effective way of facilitating learning. And the choices continue. If we are correcting, what should we correct? Students' motivation and emotions come into play here; too little correction and they may feel neglected, too much and they may feel criticised. On top of this, we must ask ourselves, what should we correct? Mistakes made in the moment? Or gaps in knowledge? And how should we do this? Implicitly or explicitly? Delayed or immediately?

What can teachers do to answer those questions?

What's important is to know how to make informed decisions and to see if research can guide us on our feedback path. Really, it comes down to being selective, understanding our students, and understanding our motivations as a teacher - what is the feedback supposed to achieve. Some of these questions are easier to answer than others, but if you're interested, why not take a look at the latest Cambridge Paper on ' Giving Feedback on Speaking Whitepaper' to see what the research says.

Find more resources to help provide your learners with asafe speaking environment.

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Giving feedback on Speaking - a free whitepaper from Philip Kerr

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Published 23 February 2018 A key part of speaking practice is providing feedback to learners - but how much should you give? Research Manager, Niall Curry, introduces our latest Cambridge research paper by Philip Kerr on this very subject. In every classroom, for every context, age group or purpose, we as teachers have to make choices.

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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We all know IKEA for its easy-to-assemble furniture and affordable home accessories. But the Swedish giant wouldn't have become the world's leader in the industry without thoroughly-planned marketing and brilliant advertising campaigns. Just check out the Valentine's one!

We at Bright Side compiled a list of 13 such remarkable promotions and displays that prove IKEA's marketing specialists are real geniuses.

11. Love is complicated.

Assembling IKEA furniture gives you a guaranteed result.

10. Celebrating Valentine's Day

In 2013, IKEA Australia made a special offer for parents who conceived their children on Valentine's Day. Can you keep a coupon for 9 months? You'll score!

9. Pregnancy test in a magazine

IKEA surely knows how to encourage people to increase the population. Its latest advertising campaign in Sweden offered women to literally pee on a page of Amelia magazine in order to find out if they are pregnant. Did anyone actually do this?

8. The most helpful book in the world

If you don't think catalogs are a good read, then you haven't seen IKEA ones. In one of their catalogs, IKEA included an "inbuilt measuring tape" which helped contribute to a highly successful campaign that led to an increase in store sales by a whopping 13.5% compared to the previous year - almost 11% higher than the planned sales goal. Simple and genius.

7. A BookBook - the newest technology

The company's marketing specialists have a great sense of humor. In 2014, IKEA launched an ad promoting its 2015 catalog, which was a pretty blatant spoof of Apple products. The ad became viral and has more than 18 million views at the moment.

6. Do you want to build a snowman?

This funny ad shows the company's ability to find humor in irony. This is one of the things that we love about IKEA.

5. Game of toilets

How do you appeal to a Game of Thrones fan in order to increase your toilet sales? This is how!

4. Studio apartment in a box

The biggest thing we love about IKEA is that they show you how to incorporate their furniture into your life. Like in this shop in Brooklyn that made a "cardboard box of a studio apartment" and furnished it as only they can. Live the dream, right?

3. Frankfurt Balcony

Redesign the balconies as IKEA drawers? Easy for this furniture mogul...

2. Parisian subway

Being comfortable everywhere you go, sit, and visit could be IKEA's motto. What else would make them redo this subway station in Paris into a cozy waiting area?

1. Train in Japan

For the promotion of their store in Japan, IKEA decorated an entire train with their unique style.

Bonus: a lifehack for getting IKEA stuff for free.

Do you like IKEA and its advertisement campaigns? Which one impressed you the most? Share with us in the comment section below!

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13 IKEA Displays That Totally Crushed The Advertising Game

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We all know IKEA for its easy-to-assemble furniture and affordable home accessories. But the Swedish giant wouldn't have become the world's leader in the industry without thoroughly-planned marketing and brilliant advertising campaigns. Just check out the Valentine's one! We at Bright Side compiled a list of 13 such remarkable promotions and displays that prove IKEA's marketing specialists are real geniuses.

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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Inspired by family life, Yehuda Devir, an artist from Israel, draws illustrations about his wife which are full of love and humor. His pictures are small episodes which depict the very essence of family life.

Bright Side has made a compilation of the artist's most recent pictures. Every couple will be able to recognize themselves in his comic illustrations!

Do you recognize yourself and your partner in these illustrations?

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An Israeli Artist Shows What Family Life Really Is

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Inspired by family life, Yehuda Devir, an artist from Israel, draws illustrations about his wife which are full of love and humor. His pictures are small episodes which depict the very essence of family life. Bright Side has made a compilation of the artist's most recent pictures.

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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Have you ever thought about what inspired designers to create famous logos and what the story behind them is? Perhaps they were an accidental creation?

Bright Side couldn't live without knowing the answers to these questions, so here is a list of the most interesting among them. See for yourself!

The logo of the most well-known animation studio in the world has always been a fairy-tale castle. In the beginning, the prototype was Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. However, Cinderella Castle in Disneyland Paris took its place in 2006.

The name of the Danish toy company comes from the Danish phrase " leg godt," which means "play well."

This looks pretty creepy, doesn't it?

Max Keith, the head of Coca-Cola's branch in Germany during WWII, decided to make a new product. The name for the new drink resulted from a collaboration between Keith and his employees. Keith asked the staff to use their imagination ("fantasie" in German). Joe Knipp, who was present there, said, " Fanta!"

10. Nintendo

Danish jewelry house Pandora also used mythology in its name. Pandora means "the all-gifted" in ancient Greek. According to the myth, Zeus ordered the creation of Pandora, the first human woman, to punish people for stealing the secret of fire from Prometheus.

The aim of some companies is to tell potential customers that using their products will make one's life better. What did Levi do to bring this idea to life? Within the logo, he creatively "hid" the part of the body that we all want to highlight by wearing jeans. Now you won't be able to unsee it!

The founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar, created the first version of his website when he still worked at Echo Bay Technology Group in Echo Bay, Nevada. Omidyar wanted to register the site name EchoBay.com. However, it turned out to be already in use, so he had to shorten it to eBay.com. Yet, many still believe that eBay stands for "Electronic Bay."

"Sam" in Korean means "3," and "Sung" stands for a "star." Thus, Samsung can be translated as "3 Stars." The figure "3" stands for something "great, numerous, and powerful."

At first glance, the Audi logo is simple and clear, but that is not the case. Each circle symbolizes one of the 4 founding companies in 1932: DKW, Horch, Wanderer, and Audi.

1. Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo logo has a very deep historical meaning: the red cross comes from the city of Milan's emblem, and the bloodthirsty crowned viper is a symbol of the House of Visconti, which ruled the city in the 14th century. However, the viper-bearing vehicles have killed fewer people than other car brands.

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14 Secrets Behind the Meanings of Famous Logos

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Have you ever thought about what inspired designers to create famous logos and what the story behind them is? Perhaps they were an accidental creation? Bright Side couldn't live without knowing the answers to these questions, so here is a list of the most interesting among them. See for yourself!

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BrightSide - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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Karen Nawfal is an artist from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Last summer, she posted a picture of the future heroes (her sister and herself) for the 1st time on Instagram. Lots of things have changed in 6 months: her style, her autograph, as well as other stuff. But one thing stayed unchanged: the cuteness level that still bursts.

We at Bright Side are certain once again that the simple things in life are the most magnificent, because we can recognize ourselves, our friends, or our sisters in each picture.

Me trying to wake up every morning:

Sometimes, we just can't make it without magic.

There are 2 types of girls:

But everyone is familiar with this kind of situation:

That's why there's only one solution:

Monday mornings are special. Because our motivation dies together with them.

How we feel after 8 minutes of working out:

Sometimes we wanna do this during a lunch break:

But everything changes when Friday comes. Or doesn't change.

And we just have to get through the last working day.

In order to make it to the WEEKEND!

Because we can return to our childhood...

...And be a bit naughty.

...And be reunited with nature.

...Or spend time exploring ourselves and our feelings.

But Sundays really rock. Let's just admit that we all dream of a Sunday like this.

Karen's art is really nice and funny. Do you agree with us? Did you recognize yourself in the pics? If so, tell us!

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An Artist Draws Comics About Girls' Everyday Lives, and Each of Them Scores a Bull's Eye

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Karen Nawfal is an artist from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Last summer, she posted a picture of the future heroes (her sister and herself) for the 1st time on Instagram. Lots of things have changed in 6 months: her style, her autograph, as well as other stuff.

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Commonly Confused Words. Many English learners are confused about words that sound and look alike...

- brake: device for stopping something

- break: pause or separate into pieces

- breach: break through of break a rule

- breech: back part of a gun barrel

- broach: raise a subject for discussion

- brooch: piece of jewellery

- canvas: strong type of cloth

- canvass: seek someone's vote

- censure: strongly criticise

- censor: ban something or someone who does

- cereal: breakfast food or edible grain

- serial: happening in a series

- chord: group or musical notes

- cord: length of string

- climactic: creating a climax

- climatic: relating to the climate

- coarse: rough or uneven

- course: direction, school subject, part of meal

- dual: having two parts

- duel: contest between two participants

- elicit: draw out a reply or reaction

- illicit: not allowed by law or against rules

- ensure: make certain something happens

- insure: pre-arrange to get compensation

- envelop: cover or surround something

- envelope: paper container for a letter

- exercise: physical activity

- exorcise: drive out an evil spirit

- fawn: young deer or light brown colour

- faun: mythical part man part goat being

- flaunt: display ostentatiously

- flout: disregard a rule or law

- forbear: refrain from something

- forebear: ancestor

- complacent: smug or self-satisfied

- complaisant: willing to please

- complement: something added that improves

- compliment: express approval or admiring remark

- council: group that manages or advises

- counsel: advice or to advise

- cue: signal to act or a wooden rod

- queue: row of people or vehicles

- curb: limit or keep something in check

- kerb: stone edge of pavement

- currant: dried grape

- current: happening now, flow of fluid/ eclectricity

- defuse: make a situation less tense

- diffuse: spread over wide area

- desert: waterless, empty area or abandon

- dessert: sweet course of a meal

- discreet: careful not to attract attention

- discrete: separate and distinct

- disinterested: impartial

- uninterested: not interested

- foreword: introduction at start of a book

- forward: onwards or ahead

- freeze: turn into ice

- frieze: decoration along a wall

- grisly: gruesome or revolting

- grizzly: type of bear

- hoard: stock or stash of money or things

- horde: large crowd of people

- imply: indirectly suggest something

- infer: draw a conclusion from

- loath: reluctant or unwilling

- loathe: to hate someone or something

- loose: set free or unfasten

- lose: be deprived of or fail to win

- bazaar: a market in the Middle East

- bizarre: strange

- amoral: unconcerned with right or wrong

- immoral: not following moral standards

- balmy: pleasingly warm

- barmy: foolish or crazy

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Top 30+ Easily Confused Words in English - ESL Buzz

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Commonly Confused Words. Many English learners are confused about words that sound and look alike...

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When it comes to offering both nutritional and linguistic value, no food is more nourishing than good ol', plain ol' bread. For centuries, bread has been a symbol of the ultimate sustenance - and bread idioms and proverbs further emphasize its dual status as a provider of life and a measure of how well that life is lived. As the month of July marks the anniversary of the first mechanical production of sliced bread, we look at some of the ways that the ubiquitous food has permeated the English language.

Bread and the Bible

It should come as no surprise that many bread idioms and expressions can be found in, or in relation to, biblical verse. The use of bread in some Christian religious services is a longstanding tradition; in the ceremony known as the Eucharist, bread and wine are served (symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus Christ), and bread is called the Host.
Our daily bread
The phrase daily bread is present in the Lord's Prayer, a prayer found in the Gospels, and spoken during liturgy in which God is entreated to "Give us this day, our daily bread." Both in- and outside of religious contexts, the daily bread is the nourishment (spiritual or otherwise) one needs each day to live one's life.
Break bread
A common idiom meaning to start or share a meal with others, breaking bread also means to celebrate the Eucharist.
Cast one's bread upon the waters
Meaning "to do good without expecting gratitude or reward," these are words to live by for anyone who values charity and generosity. The phrase is originally found in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes.
One cannot live by bread alone
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, this oft-spoken proverb alludes to two biblical passages, one in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy) and one in the New Testament (Matthew). In the religious context, one also depends on following the word of God in order to survive. Ralph Waldo Emerson added his own interpretation to the saying, writing in 1878 that one must also live "by faith, by admiration, by sympathy."
Break the staff of bread
Another expression with biblical allusions, breaking the staff of bread, according to the Oxford English Dictionary is "to cut or diminish a supply of food." Bread is also historically considered to be a " staff of life."

Bread and wealth

Bread and its ingredients have long been used as signifiers of wealth. From as far back as the 17 th century gingerbread was known as informal slang for money, and dough and bread continue to be used as such. In a similar vein, bread idioms are used in reference to both the "haves and have-nots."
Breadwinner
The person who earns the money to support a household is often called a breadwinner. When one speaks of the "sole breadwinner," oftentimes this comes with the implication that this person is also in charge of decisions regarding the household.
Bread and butter
Bread and butter symbolizes the average person's income. In this day and age, one's source of income, i.e. one's bread and butter, is vital for survival and affects your every decision. Bread and butter are also so essential that they're commonplace; bread and butter things are just expected to be there. (Following this line of thought, a bread-and-butter is a letter of thanks for hospitality that ought to be sent as a matter of course.)

The two meanings for this idiom are perhaps not originally, but currently mostly incongruous with each other. One's income may be absolutely vital for survival, but it is certainly not wise to expect that it will always be there.
Know which side one's bread is buttered on
This proverb has served as a reminder of take heed of one's own self-interest since at least the 16 th century. You're likely to have a better, preferred outcome to any situation if you know where the advantages lie.
Upper crust
When one is part of the upper class, they are the "upper crust" - well-connected, wealthy, and wield the greatest political power.
Pan loaf
It may seem obvious, but a pan loaf is a loaf baked in a tin, and has a soft crust all the way around. The concept is familiar, but the term is used predominantly in Scottish English to distinguish it from a plain loaf, a traditional loaf with crusts only on the top and bottom (rather than all the way round). Pan-loaf (and the related pan-loafy) has been used as an adjective to describe a person or their manner as affectedly refined or cultivated. Why? A pan loaf, being more expensive to make than the plain variety, was seen as sign of affluence.
Separate the wheat from the chaff
To "separate the wheat from the chaff" is to distinguish what is useful or valuable from what is not. While wheat is seen as a commodity as a food source, useful for making bread with healthier properties, chaff is considered mostly worthless because it's inedible to humans. This idiom on value is also derived from biblical verse, the Gospel of Matthew, in which the winnowing of wheat and chaff is used by John the Baptist as a metaphor for how humans are judged (by God).

Sliced bread: a brief history

The bread slicer was an early 20 th-century invention of American engineer Otto Rohwedder, and it revolutionized the packaging and serving of the pre-sliced loaves of bread. The expression "the greatest thing since sliced bread" didn't come into prominence until the 1960s, but its general use harkens back to the impact that the innovation of sliced bread had on society during the Great Depression and the industry (such as the Wonder Bread brand of packaged sliced bread) that blossomed because of it.

Proverbial bread: a mini-quiz

How well can you interpret a bread proverb? Match the proverb to the correct meaning to test your aptitude.

Highlight the answers below to see the correct matches.

1. Half a loaf is better than no bread - English proverb, mid-16 century

a. If something goes wrong, the outcome is likely to be as bad as possible.

2. Acorns were good till bread was found - English proverb, late 16 century

b. Opportunities and pleasures come too late for them to be enjoyed.

3. The bread never falls but on its buttered side - English proverb, mid-19 century

c. Until something better is found, what one has will be judged satisfactory.

4. Bread comes to those who lack teeth - translation of a French proverb, " Le pain vient à qui les dents faillent"

d. To have part of something is better than having nothing at all.

The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

Author

Allison Wright is an editor for US Dictionaries at Oxford University Press.

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The greatest thing since bread idioms - OxfordWords blog

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When it comes to offering both nutritional and linguistic value, no food is more nourishing than good ol', plain ol' bread. For centuries, bread has been a symbol of the ultimate sustenance - and bread idioms and proverbs further emphasize its dual status as a provider of life and a measure of how well that ...

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Follow John Russell to learn how to pronounce /p/ and /b/.