Monday, 30 September 2019
Saturday, 28 September 2019
English Kids’ Songs: Easy Videos for Beginners #35 - We Will Win
Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! This series is an easy way to improve your child’s English level and discover new music at the same time. Learn the song’s key words and phrases, then add it to your playlist to master it 100%. By listening over and over, [...]
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-35-we-will-win/
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-35-we-will-win/
Friday, 27 September 2019
Thursday, 26 September 2019
Verbs of Perception
Imagine that you want to describe an experience. You want to talk about how you perceived something – in other words, what you saw, heard, or felt. In our report today, we will explore the grammar of perception. Specifically, we will explore what grammar experts might call “verbs of perception.” These are words that describe actions related to our senses – seeing, hearing and listening, for example. Betty Azar is an expert on English grammar. In her book Understanding and Using English Grammar, she notes that English speakers often use verbs of perception before two other verb forms: the simple form and the form ending with –ing. Similar meaning Azar adds that the two verb forms that follow verbs of perception can sometimes have a similar meaning.* As an example, let us consider a line from a famous movie -- 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the film, a computer named HAL says the following words: "Dave, although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move." In this example, the verb see is the verb of perception. The simple form of the verb move follows it. Although HAL said “I could see your lips move,” it could have said, “I could see your lips moving.” The two statements are close in meaning. Here is another example. Imagine a police detective is investigating a crime. The detective might ask people questions, like: Detective: Did you see anything strange last night? Witness: I saw a man run down the street. Here the witness used the verb of perception see as well as the simple form of the verb run. But their exchange could have been somewhat different, as we hear in this example: Detective: Did you see anything strange last night? Witness: I saw a man running down the street. In this case, the –ing form of the verb comes after the verb of perception. The first and second exchanges with the police detective are close in meaning.* However, at other times, there is a clear difference in meaning when English speakers use the –ing form after a verb of perception, as we will find. Difference in meaning Sometimes English speakers use the –ing form after a verb of perception to point out that an activity is taking place when it was perceived. Here is an example. The following statements are about the American actor and humorist Dave Chappelle. 1: I saw Dave Chappelle perform a new act last week. 2: When I walked into the comedy club, I saw Dave Chappelle performing a new act. In both statements, see is the verb of perception. In the first statement, the verb perform appears in its simple form. In the second statement, the verb perform appears in its –ing form. In the first sentence, I saw Dave Chappelle perform a new act last week, the speaker gives the idea that she listened to all of Chappelle’s new act – from beginning to end. In the second one, When I walked into the comedy club, I saw Dave Chappelle performing a new act, the speaker gives the idea that she entered the room when Chappelle was already performing. In other words, the speaker did not see the beginning of Chappelle’s act. Other verbs of perception - examples In the examples we presented today, we only used the verb of perception see. Other common verbs of perception include hear, feel, watch and notice. So one could say: “Last night, I heard a strange sound come from the closet.” Or: “Last night, I heard a strange sound coming from the closet.” If you wanted to point out that an action was already taking place, you could say, for example, “When I woke up, I noticed my dog snoring loudly next to me.” Closing thoughts Today we showed you how English speakers use either simple forms or –ing forms after verbs of perception. We showed you that sometimes the two forms have a similar meaning. At other times, they have a clear difference. The situation can give you an idea of the speaker’s meaning. While this subject might seem difficult at first, you will quickly learn it with practice. The next time you are watching English language movies or television shows, record examples of how the speakers use verbs of perception. You might hear them use these verbs in regular, repeated ways. I’m John Russell. And I’m Alice Bryant. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. *the –ing form can often convey the idea of “while.” Subtle differences in meaning are beyond the scope of this article. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story perceive – v. to notice or become aware of (something) grammar – n. the whole system and structure of a language precaution – n. a measure taken to prevent something dangerous from happening; a safeguard pod – n. a self-container vehicle or other device comedy club – n. a business where humorists perform snore – v. to breathe noisily while sleeping practice – n. the action of repeating an exercise in order to improve one’s understanding or skills
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/verbs-of-perception-/5099933.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/verbs-of-perception-/5099933.html
Does your name start with the wrong letter?
Has the position of your surname in the alphabet affected your life? Neil & Sam discuss.
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07p877p
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07p877p
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Freecycle
When you don't want to sell, freecycle! Learn what it means.
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07p2dxr
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07p2dxr
Sunday, 22 September 2019
Business English- Positive and negative business vocabulary storytelling game
New Entry: 'Business English- Positive and negative business vocabulary storytelling game' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-business-english-positive-and-negative-business-vocabulary-storytelling-game/
Roll on
New Entry: 'Roll on' has just been added to the Phrasal Verbs area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/roll.html#Roll-on
Saturday, 21 September 2019
English Kids’ Songs: Easy Videos for Beginners #34 - Zig Zag
Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! This series is an easy way to improve your child’s English level and discover new music at the same time. Learn the song’s key words and phrases, then add it to your playlist to master it 100%. By listening over and over, [...]
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-34-zig-zag/
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-34-zig-zag/
Thursday, 19 September 2019
Understanding Verbs in News Stories
Suppose you are reading an American news website. You look at an article headline but are unsure of what the story is about. You try reading it anyway. Yet, some of the central ideas remain unclear. Many English-language newspapers in the U.S. and other places use a writing style that is different in some ways from others. Take, for example, the use of verbs. Often, verbs in the news can look simple, like “face,” “fuel” or “drive.” But some English verbs have several meanings, and news stories may use a “newsy” meaning, which can be tricky for the untrained reader. Today on Everyday Grammar, we will explore how a few verbs are used in the news, with excerpts from VOA Learning English stories. Verb: face Let’s start with the verb “face.” In the news, the verb “face” is often used to say a person, group of people or thing must deal with a difficulty or issue. A person or people might face a serious health issue, for example. A city might face a shortage of teachers. And, the planet faces environment problems. That is exactly what a recent story about student climate activists explained. In it, a leader from an environmental group used the verb “face” to say this about students: “There’s a lot of passion there and a strong desire to deal with the problems facing the environment,” she said. The person is saying students care a lot about the planet, which is being affected by environmental issues. Another story talks about Indonesia’s president announcing the move of the country’s capital to the island of Borneo. Listen to a short excerpt from that story: The goal is to move the national government outside of Jakarta, which is facing problems of overcrowding and pollution. The speaker is saying that Jakarta, the current capital, is dealing with problems such as overcrowding and pollution. Verb: fuel The verb “fuel” is another newsy verb. It often appears in stories on political issues, social movements and national or worldwide trends. “Fuel” can mean to give support or strength to something or to provide the conditions for something to happen. An August story on Hong Kong’s protests explained that Facebook and Twitter had accused China of spreading disinformation. Here’s a line from the story with the verb “fuel.” Some ads described Hong Kong protesters as being anti-China and trying to fuel violence. If someone or something is trying to “fuel” violence, it is attempting to cause or worsen it. And a September story on a U.N. effort to protect the world’s religious sites said this about U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: Guterres has often warned that hate speech is fueling intolerance around the world. Hate speech is abusive or threatening speech or writing that shows prejudice against a group of people. Guterres warned that such speech is causing or worsening intolerance. Verb: drive Now let’s talk about “drive.” The usual meaning of “drive” has to do with using vehicles. But in the news, “drive” can take on other meanings. It can mean to cause a person or thing to do something. Listen to this headline from a story about marijuana use and breathalyzer tests: Marijuana’s Growth in US Drives Breathalyzer Test Technology In other words, increased marijuana use in the United States has caused or led to the development of breathalyzer technology. You might also see the phrasal verb “drive up” in the news. The meaning is similar to “drive” but “drive up” relates to causing an amount or price to increase. In the following example, a lawyer in Vietnam talks about how companies are moving to Vietnam from China to avoid the U.S.-China trade war. He explained that this change is helping Vietnam’s economy. Have a listen: “It’s really happening, so that’s going to be driving up prices and driving up GDP a bit,” Burke said. Verb: go / move forward And finally we move to another phrasal verb. The verb “go forward” means to proceed, or continue, with something, such as a plan, ruling or decision. A recent story talked about a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. It requires asylum seekers to ask for asylum in countries they pass through before reaching the United States. Here’s how the story uses the verb “go forward”: The Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday permits the new rule to go forward as legal action against it continues to go through the court system. In other words, this rule will proceed. Another phrasal verb - “move forward” – has the same meaning and is also popular among news writers. Let’s look at a recent story about the possibility of Britain leaving the European Union. Pay attention to how it uses the words “move forward”: Johnson said he will move forward with Brexit even if there is no official agreement with the EU. In other words, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will proceed with the plan to separate Britain from the European Union. Well, we hope this program has fueled your interest in understanding the news better as you go forward in learning English. I’m Alice Bryant. Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story headline – n. the title written in large letters over a story in a newspaper style – n. a particular way in which something is done, created, or performed excerpt – n. a small part of a longer written work challenge – n. a difficult task or problem passion – n. a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something trend – n. a way of behaving or proceeding that is becoming more common site – n. the place where something, such as a building, is located breathalyzer – n. a device that is used to measure drug levels present in a person’s body intolerance – n. unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one's own. prejudice – n. an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, or something else GDP – n. a measure of the market value of all the goods and services produced in a country
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/understanding-verbs-in-news-stories/5088747.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/understanding-verbs-in-news-stories/5088747.html
Faking it: Computers that spot a real smile
We discuss if computers can recognise human emotions from the expressions on our face.
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nnn3h
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nnn3h
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
How to teach small talk questions with how
New Entry: 'How to teach small talk questions with how' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-teach-small-talk-questions-with-how.html
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Carbon footprint
Love to travel but worried about the environment? Here's a phrase for you to use.
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nk1dm
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nk1dm
Monday, 16 September 2019
Sunday, 15 September 2019
Opinions on current affairs and media
New Entry: 'Opinions on current affairs and media' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-opinions-on-current-affairs-and-media/
Saturday, 14 September 2019
English Kids’ Songs: Easy Videos for Beginners #33 - Fit Frog
Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! This series is an easy way to improve your child’s English level and discover new music at the same time. Learn the song’s key words and phrases, then add it to your playlist to master it 100%. By listening over and over, [...]
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-33-fit-frog/
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-33-fit-frog/
Friday, 13 September 2019
Verbs That Change with Gerunds and Infinitives
In English, we sometimes follow a verb with another action. When we do this, we must use an infinitive or a gerund. You may remember that a gerund is the form of a verb that ends with the letters -ing. For example, in the sentence "I love laughing," the word "laughing" is a gerund. An infinitive is the simplest verb form and often has the word “to” in front of it. In the sentence "I want to go for a walk," the words "to go" are an infinitive. English learners often have trouble knowing when to use a gerund or an infinitive. There is a good reason for this: There are a handful of rules. For example, some verbs can only be followed by infinitives. Others can only be followed by gerunds. There are other rules, but we won’t talk about them today. Instead, we will explore a small group of verbs that can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive. But their meaning changes depending on which form is used. There are seven verbs in this group. Today we will explore four of them: try, forget, stop and regret. Let's start with the verb “try” and use it with an infinitive. Try + infinitive When you try to do something, it means you make an effort to do it. But it may be difficult or impossible, and you may not succeed, as in this example: I tried to lift that box but it was too heavy. Can you help me? Lifting a heavy object is often difficult. Try + gerund But when you try doing something, it means you are experimenting with an action to find out if it works, as in this: My back hurts. I tried taking pain medicine but it’s not helping. The action itself isn’t difficult but may or may not have the desired result. The change in meaning between the infinitive and gerund with “try” is smaller than the change in meaning for other verbs we will look at today. Forget + infinitive Next up is the verb “forget.” When you forget to do something, it means you wanted to do it but you did not remember. So, you did not do it. Say, for example, you wanted to set your alarm clock last night. But you didn’t do it because you forgot. You might say: I forgot to set my alarm clock last night. Oh, no! I hope you won’t be late for work, school or an important meeting. Forget + gerund Yet when you forget doing something, the meaning changes. It means you did do it. But you fail to remember the act of doing it. In other words, you forgot a memory. Listen to this speaker use a gerund with “forget.” Ben forgot meeting Savana’s aunt at the last family gathering. The speaker is saying that Ben did meet Savana’s aunt. But he doesn't remember the act of meeting her. However, the structure forget + gerund is more commonly used when someone declares they will not forget a treasured memory, as in this sentence: I will never forget seeing my child walk for the first time. I was so happy! Stop + infinitive Let’s now move to the verb “stop.” When someone stops to do something, it means they suspend one action for the purpose of doing something else. Take this example: We’ve been cleaning all morning. Let’s stop to get something to eat. The speaker is suggesting they stop cleaning because she is getting hungry. Stop + gerund But when a person stops doing something, it means they have quit an action. Listen to this person asking someone to stop an action: Can you stop looking at social media? We have a big test tomorrow. Putting a gerund after the verb “stop” is also common when talking about bad or unwelcome habits, as in this example: I stopped smoking cigarettes. The difference in meaning here can be tricky for some English learners. So let’s compare the infinitive and gerund more closely. Have a listen: I stopped to smoke a cigarette. I stopped smoking cigarettes. “I stopped to smoke a cigarette” means the speaker stopped doing something else because she wanted to have a cigarette. “I stopped smoking cigarettes” means the speaker no longer uses cigarettes. The person has ended this habit. Regret + infinitive And finally, we have the verb “regret.” When you regret to do something, you are sorry to give someone bad news. This is a formal expression and almost always goes with the verb “inform” “say” or “tell.” Have a listen: We regret to inform you that your flight has been cancelled. Regret + gerund But when you regret doing something, you feel badly about something you did in the past. You are not happy about it, as in this example: She regrets choosing that university. It wasn’t a good fit for her. The person does not like her choice of school. She wishes she had not chosen it. What you can do? Here are two suggestions for using the information that you learned today. The first is to listen and look for the four verbs we talked about wherever English is being used. If a second verb follows, try taking note of whether it’s a gerund or an infinitive. The second is to try using these verbs in your speaking and writing. And don’t worry about making mistakes with the forms. Even with mistakes, in many cases, other English speakers will still understand your meaning. I’m Alice Bryant. Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story handful – n. a small amount or number alarm / alarm clock – n. a device that makes a loud sound at any desired time aunt – n. the sister of your father or mother or the wife of your uncle quit – v. to stop doing an action or activity habit – n. something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way formal – adj. suitable for serious or official speech and writing fit – n. suitable or appropriate for someone or something
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/verbs-that-change-with-gerunds-or-infinitives/5079288.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/verbs-that-change-with-gerunds-or-infinitives/5079288.html
Thursday, 12 September 2019
Verbs That Change with Gerunds and Infinitives
In English, we sometimes follow a verb with another action. When we do this, we must use an infinitive or a gerund. You may remember that a gerund is the form of a verb that ends with the letters -ing. For example, in the sentence "I love laughing," the word "laughing" is a gerund. An infinitive is the simplest verb form and often has the word “to” in front of it. In the sentence "I want to go for a walk," the words "to go" are an infinitive. English learners often have trouble knowing when to use a gerund or an infinitive. There is a good reason for this: There are a handful of rules. For example, some verbs can only be followed by infinitives. Others can only be followed by gerunds. There are other rules, but we won’t talk about them today. Instead, we will explore a small group of verbs that can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive. But their meaning changes depending on which form is used. There are seven verbs in this group. Today we will explore four of them: try, forget, stop and regret. Let's start with the verb “try” and use it with an infinitive. Try + infinitive When you try to do something, it means you make an effort to do it. But it may be difficult or impossible, and you may not succeed, as in this example: I tried to lift that box but it was too heavy. Can you help me? Lifting a heavy object is often difficult. Try + gerund But when you try doing something, it means you are experimenting with an action to find out if it works, as in this: My back hurts. I tried taking pain medicine but it’s not helping. The action itself isn’t difficult but may or may not have the desired result. The change in meaning between the infinitive and gerund with “try” is smaller than the change in meaning for other verbs we will look at today. Forget + infinitive Next up is the verb “forget.” When you forget to do something, it means you wanted to do it but you did not remember. So, you did not do it. Say, for example, you wanted to set your alarm clock last night. But you didn’t do it because you forgot. You might say: I forgot to set my alarm clock last night. Oh, no! I hope you won’t be late for work, school or an important meeting. Forget + gerund Yet when you forget doing something, the meaning changes. It means you did do it. But you fail to remember the act of doing it. In other words, you forgot a memory. Listen to this speaker use a gerund with “forget.” Ben forgot meeting Savana’s aunt at the last family gathering. The speaker is saying that Ben did meet Savana’s aunt. But he doesn't remember the act of meeting her. However, the structure forget + gerund is more commonly used when someone declares they will not forget a treasured memory, as in this sentence: I will never forget seeing my child walk for the first time. I was so happy! Stop + infinitive Let’s now move to the verb “stop.” When someone stops to do something, it means they suspend one action for the purpose of doing something else. Take this example: We’ve been cleaning all morning. Let’s stop to get something to eat. The speaker is suggesting they stop cleaning because she is getting hungry. Stop + gerund But when a person stops doing something, it means they have quit an action. Listen to this person asking someone to stop an action: Can you stop looking at social media? We have a big test tomorrow. Putting a gerund after the verb “stop” is also common when talking about bad or unwelcome habits, as in this example: I stopped smoking cigarettes. The difference in meaning here can be tricky for some English learners. So let’s compare the infinitive and gerund more closely. Have a listen: I stopped to smoke a cigarette. I stopped smoking cigarettes. “I stopped to smoke a cigarette” means the speaker stopped doing something else because she wanted to have a cigarette. “I stopped smoking cigarettes” means the speaker no longer uses cigarettes. The person has ended this habit. Regret + infinitive And finally, we have the verb “regret.” When you regret to do something, you are sorry to give someone bad news. This is a formal expression and almost always goes with the verb “inform” “say” or “tell.” Have a listen: We regret to inform you that your flight has been cancelled. Regret + gerund But when you regret doing something, you feel badly about something you did in the past. You are not happy about it, as in this example: She regrets choosing that university. It wasn’t a good fit for her. The person does not like her choice of school. She wishes she had not chosen it. What you can do? Here are two suggestions for using the information that you learned today. The first is to listen and look for the four verbs we talked about wherever English is being used. If a second verb follows, try taking note of whether it’s a gerund or an infinitive. The second is to try using these verbs in your speaking and writing. And don’t worry about making mistakes with the forms. Even with mistakes, in many cases, other English speakers will still understand your meaning. I’m Alice Bryant. Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story handful – n. a small amount or number alarm / alarm clock – n. a device that makes a loud sound at any desired time aunt – n. the sister of your father or mother or the wife of your uncle quit – v. to stop doing an action or activity habit – n. something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way formal – adj. suitable for serious or official speech and writing fit – n. suitable or appropriate for someone or something
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/verbs-that-change-with-gerunds-or-infinitives/5079288.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/verbs-that-change-with-gerunds-or-infinitives/5079288.html
Is tourism harmful?
Everyone loves a holiday, but what damage can tourists do? Sam and Rob find out.
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07n3ngz
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07n3ngz
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Tuesday, 10 September 2019
To cough up
When is a cough not a cough? We teach you a money-related phrase.
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07mxqg8
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07mxqg8
Monday, 9 September 2019
Lesson 1: Welcome!
Let's Learn English is a course for English learners. Certified American English teachers designed the course for beginners. There are 52 lessons. Every fifth lesson, there is a review of the previous lessons. Each week, there is a new lesson with video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary and writing. There are also printable worksheets, assessments and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers. We encourage you to follow the weekly lessons and share your progress with us through comments and email. Summary Anna moves to Washington, DC. She meets Pete at her new apartment. Speaking Watch the video and record yourself. Listen to yourself. Then listen to the video again. Pronunciation In careful speech, we say words with a small break. In everyday speech, the sounds come together with little or no break. Watch the video to learn about how the sounds change. Practice the example. Conversation Pete: Hi! Are you Anna? Anna: Yes! Hi there! Are you Pete? Pete: I am Pete Anna: Nice to meet you Anna: Let's try that again. I'm Anna Pete: I'm Pete. "Anna" Is that A-N-A? Anna: No. A-N-N-A Pete: Well, Anna with two "n's" ... Welcome to ... 1400 Irving Street! Anna: My new apartment! Yes! Writing Introduce yourself in the Comments section. Download the worksheet to learn the alphabet and numbers. For a fun way to learn the alphabet, watch the alphabet video below. Learning Strategy Each week we teach a new learning strategy. The first one is Set a Goal. When we set a goal, we decide what we want to do or learn. You are studying English with VOA Learning English. What do you want to learn? Here is an example: Pat works at a coffee shop. She wants to greet her customers in English. She sets a goal: "In three months, I will feel confident in greeting customers in English." Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. Setting a goal is an important learning strategy because it gives you a strong reason to keep studying. What is your goal for learning English this year? Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section. See the Lesson Plan for more details. Listening Quiz Check how well you understand the lesson with this quiz. Play the video and choose the correct answer. Key Words apartment - n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live. She lives in an apartment. meet - v. to see and speak to someone for the first time. Pete meets Anna on the street. new - adj. not known before; recently bought or rented. Anna has a new friend. nice - adj. good and enjoyable . It is nice to see you. street - n. a road in a city, town, or village. Anna lives on Irving Street. try - v. to make an effort to do something. Please try to say it again. welcome - interjection. used as a friendly greeting to someone who has arrived at a place. Welcome to America! _______________________________________________________________ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. For Teachers Download a lesson plan for this lesson here. Let us know your thoughts about this lesson in our Comments section or send us an email. Grammar focus: BE + name in introductions; BE + location Topics: Meeting people; Personal information; Learning the Alphabet (Activity sheet) Speaking & Pronunciation focus: Meeting people; Pronouncing linked sounds
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-one/3111026.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-one/3111026.html
Sunday, 8 September 2019
CPE Use of English Part Three tips
New Entry: 'CPE Use of English Part Three tips' has just been added to the Articles area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/cpe-use-english-part-three-tips.html
Saturday, 7 September 2019
English Kids’ Songs: Easy Videos for Beginners #32 - Kid Kit
Learn English with EnglishClass101.com! This series is an easy way to improve your child’s English level and discover new music at the same time. Learn the song’s key words and phrases, then add it to your playlist to master it 100%. By listening over and over, [...]
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-32-kid-kit/
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-kids-songs-easy-videos-for-beginners-32-kid-kit/
Friday, 6 September 2019
Lesson 52: Taking Chances
Summary Anna is on a talk show to tell us about her new career move - acting as a tree in the movies. She looks back at the chances she took in the past year and plans for the future. Will she stay in Hollywood or come back to live in Washington, D.C.? Speaking Use this video to learn the new words for this lesson. Then, learn about some new phrasal verbs. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the blend of two words in the phrase "sit down." Conversation Anna: Hello, it's Anna! I did it - Washington, D.C. is my home. Looking back over the past year, I’ve done so many amazing things! I have met people from all over the world. I’ve made many good friends. And I have a great job! And I've taken a lot of chances. And now I have some really big news! Wait for it… and 3, 2, 1… Kelly: Hello and welcome to “Around the Corner and Across the Street from the Actor’s Studio!” Many people dream of becoming actors. But very often, those dreams don’t come true. Kelly: Well, today we will meet a woman and -- her acting career has really taken off. In fact, she acted in my play, “The Woods Are Alive!” Oh. She really brought the part of Tree Number 15 to life! Let’s give a warm welcome to Anna Matteo! Anna: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me here. Kelly: Please, please, sit down. Here, here, let me help you. Anna: Thanks. Thanks. Wow, it is great to see you again, Director Kelly! Kelly: It’s great to see you too, Anna. I see you are still wearing your tree costume. Does this have anything to do with your big news? Anna: Yes. Yes, it does. Kelly: Well, Anna, please share that news with us. Anna: Kelly, I will be acting in three movies. Kelly: That is amazing! Anna, tell us more. Anna: Well, the first is a science fiction movie. The second is a romantic comedy. And the third is an action movie. Kelly: That is so great! Let me guess -- you’re playing a tree in all of them! Anna: Yes! This is what happened. To prepare for your play, I had to find out what it was like to BE a tree in the world. I had to find out where to eat, where to shop, where to meet people and how to get around the city. Kelly: Amazing. I think big things are going to happen for you, Anna. So, tell me, will you be moving to Hollywood for a career in movies? Anna: No. I’ll make the movies and then come back. Washington, D.C. is my home. Kelly: I’m sure your family is very proud. Anna: Yes, they are. You know, Kelly, not too long ago, I didn’t feel very good about my life. I had to make a change. So, I took some chances. Sometimes I succeeded. Sometimes I failed. But I will never stop trying. Kelly: Well, thank you for sharing your news and so much more with us, Anna. Kelly: Until next time … Writing In this lesson, Anna looks back on how she has learned by taking chances over the past year in Washington, D.C. Have you ever taken chances to learn something new or to meet your goal? Tell us about a chance you took and how it helped you to learn or do something important to you . Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet to practice phrasal verbs and evaluating. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Evaluate. We use this strategy when we look back at how we have learned and look forward to how we can learn more. In learning a language, we can evaluate how well we are learning and also evaluate how we are using strategies to learn. When we think about which strategies helped us, we know that we should use those strategies again. In this lesson, Anna looks back at how she took chances in learning to do her job and to live in a big city. She is also looking forward to her new career as an actor. She is taking a chance to go to Hollywood and be in the movies. Look back at how you have been learning English. What helped you the most?Now look forward. What will help you in the future? Are you taking chances to practice in lots of ways? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words action movie - n. a movie with events that happen quickly and that cause feelings of danger and excitement bring to life - phrase. make or become active, lively, or interesting career - n. a job or profession that someone does for a long time come back - phrasal verb. to return to a place fail - v. to not succeed or to end without success find out - phrasal verb. to learn (something) by making an effort get around - phrasal verb. to go, walk, or travel to different places prepare - v. to make yourself ready for something that you will be doing or something that you expect to happen proud - adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, or someone you know or are related to romantic comedy - n. a movie or play that deals with love in a light, humorous way science fiction - n. a kind of story about how people and societies are affected by imaginary scientific developments in the future share - v. to tell someone about (your feelings, opinions, or thoughts) take chances - phrase. to do things even though there could be good or bad results take off - phrasal verb. make great progress Certificate of Achievement Have you been studying with "Let's Learn English" through the past year? We are happy that you have visited regularly to study English with us. As a thank-you, we offer this certificate of achievement. Download it and add your own name. Record a short video of yourself speaking English while you are holding the certificate. Then share it with us and other English learners around the world on the VOA Learning English Facebook page. Keep visiting us to review Let's Learn English, and look for the next English course, which is coming in Fall 2017. ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using phrasal verbs and evaluating. For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar: Phrasal verbs; Review of verb tenses Topics: Discussing feelings and describing accomplishments Learning Strategy: Evaluate Speaking and Pronunciation: Blended form of "sit down" Poll _______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-52-taking-chances/3805454.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-52-taking-chances/3805454.html
Lesson 52: Taking Chances
Summary Anna is on a talk show to tell us about her new career move - acting as a tree in the movies. She looks back at the chances she took in the past year and plans for the future. Will she stay in Hollywood or come back to live in Washington, D.C.? Speaking Use this video to learn the new words for this lesson. Then, learn about some new phrasal verbs. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the blend of two words in the phrase "sit down." Conversation Anna: Hello, it's Anna! I did it - Washington, D.C. is my home. Looking back over the past year, I’ve done so many amazing things! I have met people from all over the world. I’ve made many good friends. And I have a great job! And I've taken a lot of chances. And now I have some really big news! Wait for it… and 3, 2, 1… Kelly: Hello and welcome to “Around the Corner and Across the Street from the Actor’s Studio!” Many people dream of becoming actors. But very often, those dreams don’t come true. Kelly: Well, today we will meet a woman and -- her acting career has really taken off. In fact, she acted in my play, “The Woods Are Alive!” Oh. She really brought the part of Tree Number 15 to life! Let’s give a warm welcome to Anna Matteo! Anna: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me here. Kelly: Please, please, sit down. Here, here, let me help you. Anna: Thanks. Thanks. Wow, it is great to see you again, Director Kelly! Kelly: It’s great to see you too, Anna. I see you are still wearing your tree costume. Does this have anything to do with your big news? Anna: Yes. Yes, it does. Kelly: Well, Anna, please share that news with us. Anna: Kelly, I will be acting in three movies. Kelly: That is amazing! Anna, tell us more. Anna: Well, the first is a science fiction movie. The second is a romantic comedy. And the third is an action movie. Kelly: That is so great! Let me guess -- you’re playing a tree in all of them! Anna: Yes! This is what happened. To prepare for your play, I had to find out what it was like to BE a tree in the world. I had to find out where to eat, where to shop, where to meet people and how to get around the city. Kelly: Amazing. I think big things are going to happen for you, Anna. So, tell me, will you be moving to Hollywood for a career in movies? Anna: No. I’ll make the movies and then come back. Washington, D.C. is my home. Kelly: I’m sure your family is very proud. Anna: Yes, they are. You know, Kelly, not too long ago, I didn’t feel very good about my life. I had to make a change. So, I took some chances. Sometimes I succeeded. Sometimes I failed. But I will never stop trying. Kelly: Well, thank you for sharing your news and so much more with us, Anna. Kelly: Until next time … Writing In this lesson, Anna looks back on how she has learned by taking chances over the past year in Washington, D.C. Have you ever taken chances to learn something new or to meet your goal? Tell us about a chance you took and how it helped you to learn or do something important to you . Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet to practice phrasal verbs and evaluating. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Evaluate. We use this strategy when we look back at how we have learned and look forward to how we can learn more. In learning a language, we can evaluate how well we are learning and also evaluate how we are using strategies to learn. When we think about which strategies helped us, we know that we should use those strategies again. In this lesson, Anna looks back at how she took chances in learning to do her job and to live in a big city. She is also looking forward to her new career as an actor. She is taking a chance to go to Hollywood and be in the movies. Look back at how you have been learning English. What helped you the most?Now look forward. What will help you in the future? Are you taking chances to practice in lots of ways? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words action movie - n. a movie with events that happen quickly and that cause feelings of danger and excitement bring to life - phrase. make or become active, lively, or interesting career - n. a job or profession that someone does for a long time come back - phrasal verb. to return to a place fail - v. to not succeed or to end without success find out - phrasal verb. to learn (something) by making an effort get around - phrasal verb. to go, walk, or travel to different places prepare - v. to make yourself ready for something that you will be doing or something that you expect to happen proud - adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, or someone you know or are related to romantic comedy - n. a movie or play that deals with love in a light, humorous way science fiction - n. a kind of story about how people and societies are affected by imaginary scientific developments in the future share - v. to tell someone about (your feelings, opinions, or thoughts) take chances - phrase. to do things even though there could be good or bad results take off - phrasal verb. make great progress Certificate of Achievement Have you been studying with "Let's Learn English" through the past year? We are happy that you have visited regularly to study English with us. As a thank-you, we offer this certificate of achievement. Download it and add your own name. Record a short video of yourself speaking English while you are holding the certificate. Then share it with us and other English learners around the world on the VOA Learning English Facebook page. Keep visiting us to review Let's Learn English, and look for the next English course, which is coming in Fall 2017. ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using phrasal verbs and evaluating. For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar: Phrasal verbs; Review of verb tenses Topics: Discussing feelings and describing accomplishments Learning Strategy: Evaluate Speaking and Pronunciation: Blended form of "sit down" Poll _______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-52-taking-chances/3805454.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-52-taking-chances/3805454.html
Thursday, 5 September 2019
How Much Do You Know about Quantifiers?
For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we are going to talk about different ways of expressing quantity in English. A quantifier is a word or number that shows an amount or number. You probably already know how to use common quantifiers like much and many. For example: How many apples would you like? How much fruit would you like? The quantifier many is used before apples, which is a count noun. Much is used before fruit, a noncount noun. Make sure you understand the difference between count nouns and noncount nouns before you study quantifiers. You can learn about count and noncount nouns in last week’s episode of Everyday Grammar. Quantifiers are adjectives and adjective phrases that go before nouns. They give information about how much or how many of an item you are talking about. Some quantifiers, like many, go only before count nouns. Others, like much, go only before noncount nouns. And a few quantifiers can go before count or noncount nouns. Quantifiers only used with count nouns One, each and every are examples of count noun quantifiers. Here are some examples: One movie that I enjoy is “The Godfather.” Each child is special. Every member of the country club is rich. With plural count nouns, just add of the between the quantifier and the noun it describes. One of the boys is from China. Each of the cars has air conditioning. Every one of the students is smart. Notice that boys, cars and students are plural nouns. But the verbs that follow them are singular. In most situations, one, each and every make the subject singular, even if the subject contains a plural noun. This tricky rule confuses native speakers and English learners alike. There are a few quantifiers related to the number two. You can say I have two shoes, I have a couple of shoes, I have both shoes, and I have a pair of shoes. If you have more than two countable items, you can use several, a few, many and a number of. I have several assignments due this week. There are a few Thai restaurants in my town. There are many ways to practice English. A number of the cars are imported. Quantifiers only used with noncount nouns Now let’s move on to quantifiers that only work with noncount nouns: a little, much and a great deal of. Here are some examples: Could you loan me a little money? The old woman has much wisdom to share. There is a great deal of oil in Saudi Arabia. Little can go before a count noun if it is used as an adjective. For example, “The little boy is playing.” In this example, little does not refer to a number or quantity; it refers to the size of the boy. Quantifiers used with both count and noncount nouns There are several “safe” quantifiers that can go with both count and noncount nouns. Some is the most popular. Most, plenty of, all and any are other options. Listen for the quantifiers in these examples: He cut some wood. (noncount noun) Most Americans speak English. (count noun) I have plenty of money. (noncount noun) All children are special. (count noun) Do you have any coffee? (noncount noun) To refer to the absence or lack of something, simply use no before a count or noncount noun. There was no rice left. (noncount noun) There were no books in the library. (count noun) She had no love for her ex-husband. (noncount noun) No, when used as a quantifier, has the same meaning as zero. Lots and a lot of are very popular quantifiers — maybe too popular. Some English teachers do not like them. They think that lots and a lot of are overused and unsophisticated. You should avoid lots and a lot of in formal writing. Native speakers usually shorten a lot of to “a lotta” in casual speech. Few/a few vs. little/a little Listen carefully to these two sentences: I have a few friends. I have few friends. What is the difference? The first sentence contains the article a. This little word makes a big difference in meaning. I have a few friends focuses on a positive idea. The speaker is satisfied with the number of friends he has. The second sentence, I have few friends, focuses on a negative idea, his lack of friends. The speaker wishes he had more friends. It might help to think of few as a half-empty glass of water. A few is like a half-filled glass of water. The amount of water is the same. But the speaker’s attitude about the amount of water is different. Few and a few are only used before count nouns. The same positive-negative distinction applies to a little and little. Use little and a little before noncount nouns. I have a little money means the speaker has some money. I have little money means the speaker does not have enough money. Speaking of little, we have little time left for today’s program. We hope you learned a few tips about how to use quantifiers. I’m Jill Robbins. And I’m John Russell. [Aretha Franklin, “Respect”] "All I’m asking is for a little respect when you come home Just a little bit Hey baby Just a little bit Just a little bit..." Adam Brock wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Jill Robbins and Kathleen Struck were the editors. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story quantifier – grammatical term. a determiner or pronoun indicative of quantity (e.g., all, both ) count noun - grammatical term. a noun that can form a plural and, in the singular, can be used with the indefinite article noncount noun - grammatical term. a noun (such as “sand” or “butter”) that refers to something that cannot be counted options – n. choices assignment - n. a job or duty that is given to someone : a task someone is required to do absence – n. a state or condition in which something expected, wanted, or looked for is not present or does not exist : a state or condition in which something is absent unsophisticated - adj. not complicated or highly developed; basic focus – v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific negative - adj. harmful or bad : not wanted positive – adj. good or useful distinction – n. the quality that makes a person or thing special or different
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-much-do-you-know-about-quantifiers/3206680.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-much-do-you-know-about-quantifiers/3206680.html
How Much Do You Know about Quantifiers?
For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we are going to talk about different ways of expressing quantity in English. A quantifier is a word or number that shows an amount or number. You probably already know how to use common quantifiers like much and many. For example: How many apples would you like? How much fruit would you like? The quantifier many is used before apples, which is a count noun. Much is used before fruit, a noncount noun. Make sure you understand the difference between count nouns and noncount nouns before you study quantifiers. You can learn about count and noncount nouns in last week’s episode of Everyday Grammar. Quantifiers are adjectives and adjective phrases that go before nouns. They give information about how much or how many of an item you are talking about. Some quantifiers, like many, go only before count nouns. Others, like much, go only before noncount nouns. And a few quantifiers can go before count or noncount nouns. Quantifiers only used with count nouns One, each and every are examples of count noun quantifiers. Here are some examples: One movie that I enjoy is “The Godfather.” Each child is special. Every member of the country club is rich. With plural count nouns, just add of the between the quantifier and the noun it describes. One of the boys is from China. Each of the cars has air conditioning. Every one of the students is smart. Notice that boys, cars and students are plural nouns. But the verbs that follow them are singular. In most situations, one, each and every make the subject singular, even if the subject contains a plural noun. This tricky rule confuses native speakers and English learners alike. There are a few quantifiers related to the number two. You can say I have two shoes, I have a couple of shoes, I have both shoes, and I have a pair of shoes. If you have more than two countable items, you can use several, a few, many and a number of. I have several assignments due this week. There are a few Thai restaurants in my town. There are many ways to practice English. A number of the cars are imported. Quantifiers only used with noncount nouns Now let’s move on to quantifiers that only work with noncount nouns: a little, much and a great deal of. Here are some examples: Could you loan me a little money? The old woman has much wisdom to share. There is a great deal of oil in Saudi Arabia. Little can go before a count noun if it is used as an adjective. For example, “The little boy is playing.” In this example, little does not refer to a number or quantity; it refers to the size of the boy. Quantifiers used with both count and noncount nouns There are several “safe” quantifiers that can go with both count and noncount nouns. Some is the most popular. Most, plenty of, all and any are other options. Listen for the quantifiers in these examples: He cut some wood. (noncount noun) Most Americans speak English. (count noun) I have plenty of money. (noncount noun) All children are special. (count noun) Do you have any coffee? (noncount noun) To refer to the absence or lack of something, simply use no before a count or noncount noun. There was no rice left. (noncount noun) There were no books in the library. (count noun) She had no love for her ex-husband. (noncount noun) No, when used as a quantifier, has the same meaning as zero. Lots and a lot of are very popular quantifiers — maybe too popular. Some English teachers do not like them. They think that lots and a lot of are overused and unsophisticated. You should avoid lots and a lot of in formal writing. Native speakers usually shorten a lot of to “a lotta” in casual speech. Few/a few vs. little/a little Listen carefully to these two sentences: I have a few friends. I have few friends. What is the difference? The first sentence contains the article a. This little word makes a big difference in meaning. I have a few friends focuses on a positive idea. The speaker is satisfied with the number of friends he has. The second sentence, I have few friends, focuses on a negative idea, his lack of friends. The speaker wishes he had more friends. It might help to think of few as a half-empty glass of water. A few is like a half-filled glass of water. The amount of water is the same. But the speaker’s attitude about the amount of water is different. Few and a few are only used before count nouns. The same positive-negative distinction applies to a little and little. Use little and a little before noncount nouns. I have a little money means the speaker has some money. I have little money means the speaker does not have enough money. Speaking of little, we have little time left for today’s program. We hope you learned a few tips about how to use quantifiers. I’m Jill Robbins. And I’m John Russell. [Aretha Franklin, “Respect”] "All I’m asking is for a little respect when you come home Just a little bit Hey baby Just a little bit Just a little bit..." Adam Brock wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Jill Robbins and Kathleen Struck were the editors. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story quantifier – grammatical term. a determiner or pronoun indicative of quantity (e.g., all, both ) count noun - grammatical term. a noun that can form a plural and, in the singular, can be used with the indefinite article noncount noun - grammatical term. a noun (such as “sand” or “butter”) that refers to something that cannot be counted options – n. choices assignment - n. a job or duty that is given to someone : a task someone is required to do absence – n. a state or condition in which something expected, wanted, or looked for is not present or does not exist : a state or condition in which something is absent unsophisticated - adj. not complicated or highly developed; basic focus – v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific negative - adj. harmful or bad : not wanted positive – adj. good or useful distinction – n. the quality that makes a person or thing special or different
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-much-do-you-know-about-quantifiers/3206680.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-much-do-you-know-about-quantifiers/3206680.html
Learn English in Three Minutes #23 - Talking About Pets
Learn common English conversation topics with EnglishClass101.com’s English in Three Minutes series! In the US, manners are important, and this step-by-step video teaches you some of the basics you need to be polite while speaking English. A native English teacher will explain the simple phrases necessary. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask and answer [...]
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/learn-english-in-three-minutes-23-do-you-have-any-pets/
source https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/learn-english-in-three-minutes-23-do-you-have-any-pets/
The future of food
Climate change means we might have to change our diets. Let's tuck into some vocabulary.
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07mjn0d
source http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07mjn0d
Wednesday, 4 September 2019
Tuesday, 3 September 2019
Pronunciation
New Entry: 'Pronunciation' has just been added to the English Grammar area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/pronunciation.html
Monday, 2 September 2019
M4C
New Entry: 'M4C' has just been added to the Chatlish area of UsingEnglish.com. This entry is only available in our members' area.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/members/idioms/view.php?entry_id=27354
It's a wrap
New Entry: 'It's a wrap' has just been added to the Idioms area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/it%27s+a+wrap.html
Describing Music- Things in Common Game
New Entry: 'Describing Music- Things in Common Game' has just been added to the Lesson Plans area of UsingEnglish.com.
source https://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans/view-describing-music-things-in-common-game/
Sunday, 1 September 2019
Lesson 51: A Good Habit
Summary Anna has a new goal - to run in a marathon. Her friend Ashley knows that training a little every day is a good idea. Will Anna be able to meet her goal? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about gerunds and infinitives. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce the reduced form of "to" in sentences with infinitives. Conversation Anna: D.C. is a popular city for marathons! A marathon is a long race. Many marathons raise money for charity, you know - good works. A marathon is a good fitness goal too. I want to challenge myself in a marathon and maybe win a medal! Hey, there’s Ashley. Ashley! Wait for me! It’s Anna! Anna: Ash … ley. Ash … ley. Ashley: Are you okay, Anna? Anna: I just ran … from over there. Ashley: Do you want to sit down, Anna? Do you want some water? (Anna takes the bottle and tries to return it.) No thanks. You keep it. Anna: Thanks. I didn’t know you like to run. Ashley: I love running. In fact, this weekend, I will run in my first marathon. Anna: Me … too. Ashley: Really? You are running in a marathon? Anna: Yeah. In a couple of days. Why do you ask … like that? Ashley: What do you know about running in a marathon? Anna: I know that there’s a lot of running and sometimes you can win a medal. Ashley: How long have you been training? Anna: I started today. I’ve been training for an hour … no, an hour and seven minutes! Ashley: Anna, training a little every day is a good habit to get into. Not all at once! Anna: Thanks for the advice, Ashley. But I’m running in a special race. Ashley: What marathon is it? Anna: I don’t remember the name. But the website said everyone gets a medal. Ashley: Okay, well, good luck, Anna! Anna: Thanks, Ashley. Good luck to you, too. Ashley: Thank you. Anna: Bye! Ashley: Bye, Anna! Anna: See you! (At the race: an announcer calls out race information) Anna: Hello. I am here to enter the race! Woman: But ma’am you can’t enter the race. Anna: What? How am I going to meet my goal? Woman: Ma’am, this race is for children. You can’t run with the children. Anna: Children? Children. That’s perfect. I just might win! Woman: No, ma’am. You really can’t run with the children. Anna: I’m sorry. Of course. I was only thinking of my goal. Woman: Well, you can help us with our goal, which is to raise money for sick children. Would you like to help us? Anna: I’ve just found my new goal. And I get to wear a medal. (to child who finished race) Good job! Writing In this lesson, Anna helps at a charity event. Have you ever helped with a charity? Tell us about what you did to help. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet to practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Set a Goal. This strategy is what we do when we plan to do something. In learning a language, setting a goal means we have a reason to learn. That helps us focus on our study and practice more often. In this lesson, Anna has a goal of running in a marathon. Her friend Ashley has the same goal. But Ashley has been training so she can run the long race. She set a goal and is working hard to meet it. Anna's goal is not easy to meet because she has not been training, or preparing to run well. She learns that she can have a new goal in this week's lesson. That goal is something she will be able to meet. What is your goal for learning English? Write to us about the goals you have and how you are working to meet them in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words challenge - v. to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something) charity - n. a organization that helps people in need fitness - n. the condition of being physically fit and healthy goal - n. something that you are trying to do or achieve habit - n. something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way marathon - n. a running race that is about 26 miles (42 kilometers) long medal - n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement race - n. a competition between people, animals or vehicles to see which one is fastest special - adj. different from what is normal or usual train - v. to try to make yourself stronger, faster, or better at doing something before competing in an event or competition ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports. For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar: Review of Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous; Gerunds; Infinitives (to + verb) Topics: Habits; Discussing things you dislike doing; Expressing appreciation Learning Strategy: Set a Goal Speaking and Pronunciation: Reduced "to" in infinitives Poll _______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-51-a-good-habit/3773577.html
source https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-51-a-good-habit/3773577.html
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