July 27, 2013

Weekly Finds: July 27, 2013

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

LISTENING


Singing the ABCs in 8 Different Languages

Since the 19th century, we've been learning our ABCs through the alphabet song sung to the same tune as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." But ours is not the only alphabet, and not every alphabet will fit into that song. Here are some other songs from around the world to help them learn their ABCs.

READING


A Visual History Of The Photograph [Infographic]

The Mobile Revolution has fundamentally changed how photos are taken, where they are taken, by whom they are taken and, most importantly, how often they are taken.

WRITING


How to explain the hardest things in the easiest words

Check out the Up-Goer Five text editor, a widget created by geneticist Theo Sanderson, which restricts writers to the 1000 most commonly used words in the English language.

SPEAKING


When Presidents Say 'Y'all': The Strange Story of Dialects in America

From Appalachian hollows to urban neighborhoods, the ways people speak can bring them together or cause social isolation. A language expert explains why.

GRAMMAR


Why pick on adverbs?

Adverbs come in many shapes and sizes , so it’s worth looking at each type to see which are the worst offenders – and which are harder to do without.

VOCABULARY


20 Words We Owe to William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s scripts contain over 2200 never-before-seen words—a diverse collection of loan-words from foreign languages, compound words from existing English terms, nouns turned into verbs, and creatively applied prefixes—many of which have entered into everyday language. Here are 20 examples of words we can thank Shakespeare for.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


How to inspire people every time you speak

The author shares the importance of telling stories.

July 20, 2013

Weekly Finds: July 20, 2013

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

LISTENING


Schwa+r Paragraph Practice

Listen to this podcast. The schwa+r sound is discussed.

READING


What Makes a Device Obsolete?

Is it the discontinuation of updates (or the inability to cope with current technology), discontinuation of production, emergence of a new and better technology in the same field, or simply the introduction of a new device of the same range?

WRITING


Using mind maps to develop writing

Mind maps can be used for a multitude of purposes. This article outlines how they can effectively be used to help support and develop students' writing skills.

SPEAKING


Conversational English – How to Generalize

Watch and learn a wide variety of expressions to discuss issues in general.

GRAMMAR


Some random thoughts about -ise and -ize verbs in British English.

Check out the author's discussion on verbs that can end in -ise or -ize.

VOCABULARY


An amazing look at the most commonly used words in inauguration speeches

Compare the words every president from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama used in their inaugural speeches.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


What Your Students Need to Know About Body Language

Body language and nonverbal clues are extremely important in communication.

July 13, 2013

Weekly Finds: July 13, 2013

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

LISTENING


Learning a Second Language: the Younger the Better!

A new study suggests that babies learn bits of their native languages even before they are born. A baby develops the ability to hear by about 30 weeks’ gestation, so he can make out his mother’s voice for the last two months of pregnancy.

READING


Why did men stop wearing high heels?

It was once a sign of virility and masculinity - whatever happened to the high heel?

WRITING


5 Uncommon Figures of Speech to Spice Up Your Writing (Part 1)

Anaphora, antithesis, chiasmus, metonymy, and synecdoche - Use these less common figures of speech to convey meanings in a more vivid and impressive manner both in writing and speaking.

SPEAKING


Zombie Presentations: How Not to Speak like The Living Dead

Want to improve your presentation skills? Here's how to stop being a zombie and present with style and influence!

GRAMMAR


Plural But Singular in Construction

In the dictionary, when you’re looking up a noun that ends in s, you’re apt to find a notation like this: “noun plural but singular in construction.” What does that mean?

VOCABULARY


Though, Although, Even though, Despite, In spite of

How do we use each of these in English?

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


5 Tips to Build Your Students Test-Taking Confidence

Gain confidence in your test-taking skills with these simple tips.

July 6, 2013

Weekly Finds: July 6, 2013

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

LISTENING


How to make the perfect omelette

Are you a good cook? Do you want to know how to make something simple and delicious to eat? Watch this video and learn the secrets to making a perfect omelette!

READING


Where do words come from? Do they really mean anything?

Learn all about semiology in relation to the words and meanings we encounter.

WRITING


Who, Which, That—or, How Not to Ruin a Sentence

Relative pronouns can cause so much frustration with your misplaced thats, whos, and whichs. Learn how to avoid this.

SPEAKING


Common Eye Contact Mistakes

Learn how to make and maintain good eye contact while avoiding the common eye contact mistakes.

GRAMMAR


Farther or Further?

What's the difference between farther and further? Learn about one of the most common grammatical misunderstandings in this quick and easy lesson.

VOCABULARY


Behind Inaugural Speeches, Meaningful Words

What words do presidents focus on most in their inaugural addresses? Explore speeches, from Washington to Obama.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


The Malcolm Gladwell Formula for Success

Malcolm Gladwell, author of four New York Times bestsellers, meets any conventional measure of success. But his own path, and the advice for which he has won his fame, is anything but conventional.