Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Reading Comprehension (A1-A2)

Reading Skills: At The Office. Beginner
A New Office. Beginner
The Hotel of the Famous. Intermediate
Comic Strip 1. Intermediate
Comic Strip 2. Intermediate
Interactive exercises

Listening/Dictation


Listen and fill in the missing words
 
 

Modern English Words and Slang Terms

New English words, slang terms and figures of speech for conversations. Not sure how to use them? Don’t worry, we’ve included definitions and examples of how to use them in a sentence.

Earworm 

A song or tune that, once you’ve heard it, is stuck in your head.
Use it: “That new Taylor Swift song is such an earworm!”

Staycation

Spending your holiday in your hometown rather than travelling abroad. Often spent relaxing around the house or doing activities in the local area.
Use it: “I’m having a staycation this summer, as I’m trying to save money.”

Webisode

An episode or series created exclusively for online viewing. This can be part of a web series or used to promote a television series.
Use it: “There’s a new Breaking Bad webisode online, have you seen it?”

Crowdfunding

Funding a project or business venture by asking a large number of people (typically online) to invest a small amount of money – usually via websites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
Use it: “We raised enough money to launch our business using crowdfunding.”

Glamping

Glamorous camping! Avoiding any rough conditions with luxurious facilities and accommodation, such as a yurt or cabin.
Use it: “We’re going to be glamping at Glastonbury this year.”

Lookalike

Something or someone that closely resembles something else, often used to describe someone who looks very similar to a celebrity.
Use it: “Have you seen the Prince William and Kate Middleton lookalikes over there?”

Handover

This word has a more political significance, in terms of gaining land or ownership. However, its modern usage is commonly in the workplace: The act of passing over control or responsibility to another person while you are off work on holiday or leaving a job.
Use it: “I’ll send my notes in a handover email so you can continue the project while I’m away.”

Meh

When something is a little uninspiring or dull. Also a word you could use to describe your lack of interest or indifference. It’s basically a verbal shrug.
Use it: “The film was a bit meh.”

Binge-watch

Watching multiple episodes of a TV show, one after another, in a single sitting. Usually with a DVD box set or using online streaming.
Use it: “I’m planning to binge-watch the entire series of Game of Thrones this weekend!”

Bae

An affectionate term for a girlfriend or boyfriend, short for babe or baby. Some say it’s an acronym for ‘before anyone else’.
Use it: “See you later, bae.” 
                                                                                                                     From Pearson 

Monday, September 26, 2016

The European Day of Languages - 26 September

"The European Day of Languages is celebrated every year on 26 September. It's a day to encourage language learning for young and old. This year's European Language Day is also an opportunity to highlight the huge value of Europe's cultural diversity. Europe's nations are always at their strongest and most prosperous when we are open and outward-facing, willing to embrace other ways of life, and when we welcome those who can contribute to our societies. By pausing to celebrate the dozens of languages spoken across our communities we can send a powerful message: that Europe is a place where all backgrounds are welcome and individuals of every heritage can feel at home. Hundreds of events have been organized by schools, universities and cultural establishments to mark the day. I would like to send my best wishes to all those taking part." (Message from Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland)

Monday, September 19, 2016

Zero

0 is zero and in British English, it’s sometimes known as nought.
In telephone numbers, room numbers, bus numbers and dates (years), we say oh.
Here are some examples:
  • The meeting is in Room 502 (five oh two)
  • You need to take Bus 205 (two oh five)
  • She was born in 1907 (nineteen oh seven)
  • My telephone number is 07781 020 560 (oh double seven eight one oh two oh five six oh OR zero seven seven eight one zero two zero five six zero)
For football scores we say nil: ‘The score was three-nil (3-0) to Barcelona’.
American English uses various words for sports scores: The Yankees are winning three nothing/ three zero/ three zip.

For tennis scores we say love: ‘The score was thirty love. (30-0)
For temperatures we say zero: ‘It’s zero degrees celsius today (0°)
The decimal point (Notice that in English we say decimal point, and not a dot as in internet addresses). 
In British English, zero and nought are used before and after a decimal point. American English does not use nought.

Oh
can be used after the decimal point.
Here are some examples:
  • 0.05       zero point zero five OR nought point nought five
  • 0.5%      zero point five per cent OR nought point five per cent.
  • 0.501     zero point five zero one OR nought point five nought one OR           nought/zero point five oh one
NOTE: 0.6 = point six
                                                                                                                http://englishwithatwist.com/2013/04/09/how-to-say-zero-in-english/

Reading Numbers

When expressing large numbers (more than one hundred) read in groups of hundreds. The order is as follows: billion, million, thousand, hundred. Notice that hundred, thousand, etc. is NOT followed by an ‘s’.
Two hundred (NOT two hundreds)

NOTE: British English takes 'and' between 'hundred and ...' American English omits 'and'. 

350 – three hundred and fiftyThree hundred fifty
425 – four hundred and twenty-five
873 - eight hundred and seventy-three
112 - one hundred and twelve

15,560 – fifteen thousand, five hundred and sixty

786,450 – seven hundred and eighty-six thousand, four hundred and fifty

342,713 - three hundred and forty-two thousand, seven hundred and thirteen
569,045 - five hundred and sixty-nine thousand, forty-five 

2,450,000 – two million, four hundred and fifty thousand

234,700,000 – two hundred and thirty-four million, seven hundred thousand

2,350,400 => two million, three hundred and fifty thousand, four hundred
NOTE - Remember: Use ‘and’ only between hundreds in British English

DECIMALS
Read decimals as the given number point XYZ
2.36 - two point three six
14.82 - fourteen point eight two
9.7841 -nine-point seven eight four one
3.14159    - three point one four one five nine (that's Pi!)

PERCENTAGES

Read percentages as the number followed by ‘percent / per cent"

100% hundred per cent
37% - thirty-seven per cent    (BRITISH ENGLISH)
12% - twelve percent              (AMERICAN ENGLISH)
87% - eighty-seven percent
3% - three per cent

FRACTIONS

Read the top number as a cardinal number, followed by the ordinal number + ‘s’
3/8 - three-eighths
5/16 - five-sixteenths
7/8 - seven-eights
1/32 - one thirty-second

NOTE: ¼ =>one quarter, 2/3 => two thirds, ½ one half

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Here are the descriptive names of a number of important numerical expressions:

  • Speed - 100 mph (miles per hour) 120 kpm (kilometres per hour) Read speed as numbers: One hundred miles per hour
  • Weight - 80 kg (kilograms) OR 42 lbs (pounds) 
Read weight as numbers: Eighty kilograms OR forty-two pounds
  • Telephone number - 0171 895 7056
Read telephone numbers in individual numbers: 

zero/oh one seven one eight nine five seven zero/oh five six

  • Date - 12/04/65 
Read dates: month, day, year in the US 
                   December the fourth nineteen sixty-five

                    day, month, year in the UK
              The twelfth of April nineteen sixty-five

  • Temperature - 28° C (Celsius) OR 72° F (Fahrenheit)
Read temperature as "degrees +number": twenty-eight degrees Celsius OR seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit

NOTE: sub-zero, minus zero

  • Height - 1 m 89 cm  / 6'2''
Read height first meters then centimeters, or feet then inches: one meter eight nine centimeters or 6'' 2' six feet two inches
  • Price - $60 
Read the currency first then the number: Sixty dollars

  • Score - 2-1
Read scores as "number + to + number": Two to one 


Ordinal numbers are used when speaking about the place in something such as in competitions. Most numbers end in 'th', except first, second, and third of every ten numbers.
1st - first       2nd - second    3rd - third

4th- fourth    5- fifth.           12- twelfth

17th - seventeenth

21 - twenty- first.     46 - forty -sixth
                                                        
                                                                                                               http://esl.about.com/od/beginningvocabulary/a/ex_numbers.htm      




How to Read Fractions

Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers