Podcast – Complimenting
This week’s podcast, for all of you beautiful people out there, is here. 20140319 Complimenting The podcast is also available in the iTunes Store by searching for Get Great English or clicking here.
Month: March 2014
Sing to Improve Fluency
In my old job I taught part of a weekend intensive English course. It was tough for a lot of the students, who had really high goals but they improved their English a lot over the course. Every one of the students liked English. At the end of term we had a karaoke party in … [Read more…]
Did you use to do it, or are you used to it?
‘Used to’ is quite easy to make mistakes with. There are two completely different meanings for this phrase. used to: This is used when an action occurred often in the past but does not occur now. I used to drink and smoke but I have a healthy lifestyle now. In questions, it changes to ‘use … [Read more…]
Easy Ways to Use English Every Day
“I want to use English,” my students say, “but I don’t have anyone to talk to apart from you.” “What about writing a diary?” I suggest. “I never keep to it. I always abandon it after a week or so.” In which case, here are some other suggestions. The first one is from my student … [Read more…]
Don’t Think
In English, when you are not 100% sure of something, use ‘I don’t think’ rather than ‘I think ~ isn’t’. Wrong I think it won’t rain. I think he is not my type. I think that when I get home my mother won’t be at home. I think they can’t handle it. Correct I don’t … [Read more…]
Interrupting Is Not Rude
Everybody seems to think that interrupting people is rude. Maybe this is something learned when we are children, with our parents telling us, “Don’t interrupt when I’m talking.” Interrupting when it is unnecessary is rude but sometimes you simply must interrupt. Here are the ways to do it. Try to get someone’s attention visually. Sometimes … [Read more…]
Use Kindle and Kobo to Study English
Even if you don’t own an e-book reader (or ebook reader), you can still download free samples to your smartphone or your computer. Download the app and go shopping in the Kindle store or the Kobo store (search for your local store) and download free samples of books. You’ll need to sign up but if … [Read more…]
Podcast – Giving Directions
This week’s podcast is about asking for and giving directions. Why not practice by using and English tourist map of your town? Podcast download: Directions Directions Sheet The podcast is also available in the iTunes Store by searching for Get Great English or clicking here.
Talk About Music
Music is fantastic. It’s also a great way to study English but sometimes it can be difficult to talk about music. Instruments Most pop, rock, blues and country music is played on guitars, bass, drums and keyboards. The guitar may be an electric guitar plugged into an amplifier or an acoustic guitar. The keyboard may … [Read more…]
Comparing things
When you compare things there are three ways to do it: Use an Adjectival Comparative to Compare the Things ‘-er’ Comparatives Adjectival comparatives come in the ‘-er/est’ form for short adjectives, ‘more/most ____’ form for long adjectives and for negative comparisons ‘not as ___’ and for equal comparisons ‘as ____’. The one that causes the … [Read more…]