VOCABULARY

Studying vocabulary is certainly one of the best ways to improve your understanding. Still, knowing how to do it is very important.

Suppose you are reading a newspaper article and you come across the sentence "the CONSPICUOUS castle could be seen from miles away."
Damn! What "the hell" does CONSPICUOUS mean???

FIRST STEP: Go to a dictionary (do it online, use two dictionaries to compare). Find the definition of that word.
* conspicuous: very noticeable, attracting attention, obvious.
- She was wearing a conspicuous dress.
- The man tried not to look conspicuous and leave the room.

SECOND STEP: Create your own sentences.
- I would look conspicuous in a group of japanese students.
- He drove a conspicuous car.
- Her pants had a conspicuous blood stain.

THRID STEP: Go back to the context you first found this word in. Check the context again.

FOURTH STEP: The first chance you have, put it into practice.

The process gets even easier and simpler when it comes to practicing concrete words, that is, things you can see or make reference to by pointing.

Someone said: "the turnstile is broken again."

Turnstile???

So, Next time you see a turnstile, repeat it in your mind: TURNSTILE. That's the way you can improve and actually memorize new vocabulary.

Best wishes,

André

BASIC LEARNING

A student needs to remember that the learning process is long and endless. It takes a lot of work and dedication to atually learn how to communicate effectively and fluently in the English language. The first steps are the most important ones. Knowing how to use PRESENT, PAST and FUTURE is crucial to creating a substantial and strong knowledge.

You will find a list of links to basic exercises below:

PAST:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_statements.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_statements2.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_negation_sentences3.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/questions/simple_past.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/was_were.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/was_not_were_not.htm

PRESENT:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_statements.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_statements2.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_negation_sentences3.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/questions/simple_present.htm

FUTURE:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/will_future1.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/will_future2.htm

If you want to remember or need the explanation again, click on the links below:

PAST explanation:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/simple_past_form.htm

PRESENT explanation:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/simple_present_form.htm

FUTURE explanation:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/will_future_form.htm

Best wishes,

André

FALSE COGNATES

False cognates are words that confuse us for looking and sounding the same in both Portuguese and English. Learning vocabulary is basically the key to knowing the right choice.

Take a look at the following example:

A DAY AT WORK
In the morning I attended a meeting between management and union representatives. The discussion was very comprehensive, covering topics like working hours, days off, retirement age, etc. Both sides were interested in an agreement and ready to compromise. The secretary recorded everything in the notes. Eventually, they decided to set a new meeting to sign the final draft of the agreement.
Back at the office, a colleague of mine asked me if I had realized that the proposed agreement would be partially against the company policy not to accept workers that have already retired. I pretended to be really busy and late for an appointment, and left for the cafeteria. Actually, I didn't want to discuss the matter at that particular moment because there were some strangers in the office.
After lunch I attended a lecture given by the mayor, who is an expert in tax legislation and has a graduate degree in political science. He said his government intends to assist welfare programs and senior citizens, raise funds to improve college education and build a public library, and establish tougher limits on vehicle emissions because he assumes this is what the people expect from the government.

ATTEND = take part

REALIZE = perceive, notice, understand

PRETEND = suppose, act falsely

There are other false cognates in the text above. Find and look them up in a dictionary in order to distinguish their uses.

Try the following quiz: http://www.esoeonline.org/main-index/index-exercises/vocabexs/falsefriends/ffe.htm

Best wishes,

André

House-related vocabulary

It's obvious that you know some words related to the house such as kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, garage among others. Still, there must be a couple of them you might get confused using or even not know. Check out the following words and pictures:

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ATTIC............................... ......AWNING

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FOYER.............................. .......HALLWAY

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PATIO.......................................CEILING

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PANTRY................................. BALCONY

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Best wishes,
André

SINGULAR - PLURAL

Singular and plural forms in English may differ from Portuguese a little bit.
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There are words which will change or remain the same in the plural form.
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Check out a couple of examples below:


Man = Men.
Leaf = Leaves.
Mouse = Mice.
News = News.
Company = Companies
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Check out the following links to practice plural and singular forms:
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http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/plural1/index.php
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/plural2/index.php
http://www.nonstopenglish.com/exercise.asp?exid=230
http://www.english-4u.de/plural_ex1.htm

Best wishes,
André

READING PRACTICE

January 26, 2008

16-year-old arrested over alleged plot to hijack a US airliner

A 16-year-old male from Novato, California has been arrested in Tennessee over allegations he intended to hijack a commercial passenger airliner in the United States.
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The boy, who was unnamed due to his age, was a passenger on board Southwest Airlines Flight 284 from Los Angeles to Nashville on Tuesday, with his parents reporting him missing at 11:30 am the same day. Although he remained calm throughout the flight and made no hijacking attempt, authorities report he had handcuffs, duct tape and yarn inside the aircraft cabin with him. Although his arrest was only made public on Friday, it is reported that he was detained immediately on reaching Nashville International Airport.
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George Bolds, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that the items were "suspicious" and that the boy had informed the FBI he had indeed intended to hijack the aircraft. An FBI agent told reporters that he felt the plot was ill-conceived, saying "His plan had a low probability of success."
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The FBI also conducted a search of his home on Thursday, finding in his room "a photograph of the inside of a small aircraft, something you'd find in a bookstore."
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Subsequent to his arrest he pled guilty on Friday to a "delinquent act," according to local officials. A juvenile court judge ordered him to be returned to California for continued perusal of that charge as well as others set to be made. He is currently in Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center in Nashville.

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Authorities believe that the teen was suicidal, but the FBI dismissed earlier reports alleging that he intended to crash the airliner into a Hannah Montana concert in Lafayette, Louisiana

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*http://en.wikinews.org/

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Best wishes,

André

FREQUENCY TIP

There are sometimes words that make us confused or unsure. We may not know how to use those words or even know if those words are actually suitable for that specific situation.

In order to avoid being uncommon, old-fashioned or regionalist, we must verify whether the words we want to use are actually the best options.

You can search Google for the words and pay attention to the frequency indicator above the results. By checking it out, you'll be able to know if those words are common or not. You can also do it to find out which prepositon to attach to a word. You can compare words and sentences.

Ex: I'm not sure if I should use "afraid of" or "afraid from". So, I should type in both ways and analyze the results. Whichever brings back the highest frequency should be the best option. In this case, "afraid of" should not only be your best option, but also the correct option.

It's not always about correct or incorrect options, but about approaching your best choices and native-like fluency.

www.google.com

Best wishes,

André

EXERCISES - Practicing is crucial!

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There's a list of links for your improvement below. Help yourself!

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(adjectives) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/iteslj/mc-confusedadj.html

(prepositions) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/iteslj/mc-prepositions.html

(present perfect x simple past) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/be/pspp1r.htm

(gerund x infinitive) http://a4esl.org/q/h/9801/el-to-ing.html

(prepositions - duration) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/be/duration.htm

(passive voice) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/be/passive1.htm

(phrasal verbs) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/iteslj/ppva.html

(interrogative pronouns) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/iteslj/m-queswords.html

(quantifier / container) http://www.cad.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/~demch/friends/esl4rus/libr/quizzes/iteslj/mc-bun.html

(pronouns) http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/pronouns.html

Best wishes,

André

PHRASAL VERBS

These verbs are the source of confusion for thousands of students.

PHRASAL VERBS: verbs that consist of a verb and a preposition forming a new verb with a different meaning. Take a look at the examples below:


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FIND: Julia found a dog on the street.
FIND OUT: Julia is desolated. She found out she can't have babies.

PUT: We have to put gas in the car. Where is the nearest gas station?
PUT OFF: We'll have to put off the meeting because two of the directors are away on business.

MAKE: He made a terrible mistake.
MAKE UP: He's never been to europe. He made it up just to seem like an important person.

The only way to get better is through practice, isn't it???
Then, click on the links below to exercise your knowledge:

http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasalverbs1.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasalverbs2.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasalverbs3.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasalverbs4.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasalverbs5.htm

Best wishes,
André

Common mistakes

Click on the following link s and check if you are likely to make some specific mistakes:

http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/Interactive/errors1.html
http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/Interactive/errors2.html

If there is any uncertainty, go ahead and post it!
Best wishes,
André

DEFINITION - AS / LIKE / HOW / SUCH AS / AS IF

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These words deserve special attention since they are invariably misused. Details can't be taken for granted in order to master the way they're used.

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HOW: 1. it is an interrogative pronoun. 2. It indicates manner.

- How did you find out about that?

- I've known how to drive for 8 years.

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AS: 1. it is a conjunction that shows similarity. 2. it is also a preposition that refers to sth in particular.

- Do as your mother says!

- Paul was appointed as the chairman of the board.

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LIKE: 1. it is a preposition that indicates sth is similar to sth else.

- You look just like your Dad.

- Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall. Come on, say sth!

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SUCH AS: 1. it is used for mentioning examples.

- I like several actors such as Harrison Ford and George Clooney.

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AS IF: 1. it is used to indicate similarity in action.

- It seemed as if she had never seen that guy before.

- Why did you talk to me as if you were talking to one of your employees? I'm your wife! Have some respect!

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COMPARE:

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A. Tom knows how to cook.

B. I work as a teacher.

C. That joke sounded like a silly one.

D. I've read books by different authors such as S. Sheldon and A. Christie.

E. You act as if you were five years old sometimes.

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A. HOW is followed by an action in the infinitive form.

B. AS is followed by a particular thing.

C. LIKE is followed by an object that is similar to the one already mentioned.

D. SUCH AS is followed by examples.

E. AS IF is followed by a sentence.

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You should click on the link below for further practice:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/skills/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_64.htm

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Keep up the good work.

Best wishes,

André

DIFFERENCES - MAKE / DO

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Another great and crucial topic that makes students confused is the use of the verbs MAKE and DO. Students may understand the basic definition of each one, but there are thousands of expressions with those verbs that don't seem to make sense and they actually do damage to students' comprehension.
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BASIC DEFINITION:
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DO: perform an action.
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MAKE: construct, create, build.
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Common expressions:
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DO A FAVOR
DO DAMAGE
DO GOOD
DO WELL ON STH
DO BUSINESS
DO A JOB
DO ONE'S BEST
DO THE DISHES
DO THE HOUSEWORK / HOMEWORK

MAKE FRIENDS
MAKE AN EXCUSE
MAKE LOVE
MAKE A POINT
MAKE A DECISION
MAKE A LIST
MAKE SENSE
MAKE A MISTAKE
MAKE MONEY
MAKE PLANS
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There is no better way to remember than practicing:
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http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blmakedo1.htm?lastQuestion=0&answers=1&submit=Next+Question+%3E%3E&ccount=0
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http://engli.webpark.pl/makeordo.html

http://www.english-test.net/esl/learn/english/grammar/ei092/esl-test.php
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Hope you can master the use of both verbs in expressions soon
Best wishes,
André

LOSE x MISS

The following verbs can be tricky, but only if you don't remember any of the hints or definitions below. Take the quiz after reading and get to know if you really understand the differences:


LOSE: to fail to keep sth; not to win.
- My father lost his eyeglasses once again.
- John lost the card game.
- I'm sorry I lost my mind back there. Tim can be a real jerk sometimes!
(figurative meaning - expression = not to be able to control oneself in anger)

MISS: not to be present; to fail to reach, understand or get to sth; to feel the absence of sb.
- Hurry up, the movie is about to begin. You don't want to miss the beginning.
- That's great, Mary! You can't miss this opportunity.
- I had no idea I would miss you this much.

***LOSE: involves sth you that once belonged to you.
I can LOSE a wallet, a key, a pen.

***MISS: involves sth that never belonged to you.
I can MISS a train, a meeting, a TV show.

Click on the link below for further practice:
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/254.html

Best wishes,
André

DIFFERENCES

There several words in the English language that are quite different from what we expect due to their portuguese-spelling similarity. Check out a couple of adverbs that might be taken into consideration:



EVENTUALLY: it describes what happens in the end. It's used to emphasize a result after a series of things. It also shows a "gradual" result. AT LAST is a synonym. It's used to emphasize a result that comes up at an unspecified time.

- Look at the way she treats her kid. She shouldn't beat him up every time he does something wrong. I hope she will eventually understand a beating isn't helpful at all.
- If Josh keeps exercising like that and doesn't get back to eating junk food, he will eventually lose weight.

FINALLY: it describes what happens in the end. It's used to give emphasis to the last thing that is done or happens in a series of events.

- After the teacher explained the topic for the third time, the student finally understood.
- The project has finally come to an end! We'll have time to focus on other issues from now on.

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Fill in the blanks with the appropriate adverb:

1. Tim saved some money and ________________ bought his car last week.
2. You'll _______________ buy an apartment if you save money.
3. Tina worked hard and _______________ rose to the position of manager.
4. After 10 years of hard work, Tina _______________ got promoted to manager.


Best wishes,
André

LISTENING PRACTICE

Practice is the key to understanding better. There is a link to a video below. Listen to it and answer the following questions:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu79GZOUuy0

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1. How long has Bob studied martial arts?

2. What does Bob say will happen to those women after the course?

3. What does the black woman want to know?

4. What does Bob start his class with?

5. Who was the world champion in 1976?

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Best wishes,

André

PRESENT PERFECT

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Present Perfect is one of the most difficult constructions for brazilians to understand.
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There are some facts to be considered before using this construction:
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1. Situation started and goes on
- I have worked for this company since 1999.
- Julia hasn't seen her father for a week.

2. Past situation without time reference
- Mark has been to Europe twice.
- We've bought a new car.

3. Recent Information
- My parents have just arrived from Australia.
- He's finished the article.

4. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS: constant or repeated action:
- Won't you get some rest? You've been playing this game for hours!
- Sue's been taking English classes since last month.

*****The only way to perfection is through practice.

Click on the links below:
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/pspp1.htm
http://www.smic.be/smic5022/testtenses2.htm
http://www.smic.be/smic5022/presentperfect2.htm
http://www.geocities.com/gob72/grammarverbtenses.html
http://www.geocities.com/gob72/presentvspresentperfect.htm

Hope it will help you improve your English!
Best wishes,
André

INTENSIFIERS - SO / SUCH

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There are different words that will indicate intensity. SO and SUCH are two short words that can be misleading if one isn't careful when using them.

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SO: it's used with adjectives for emphasis.

- It's so cold in here. Turn on the heater!
- You are so lazy. Why don't you do anything?
- I love her so much!
- I'd never seen so many wild animals.

SUCH: it's usually used with adjectives + nouns for emphasis. It can be used with only nouns.

- Tom is such a jerk!
- You had such an amazing idea!
- This is such hot tea.
- There are such wonderful beaches in Rio!

***You should pay attention to the word SUCH and its comploment:

- This is such a nice song. (countable singular)
- Dan has such beautiful eyes. (countable plural)
- I've never tasted such food. Is it spicy? (uncountable)

There's a link below for further practice:
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/236.html

Best wishes,
André

LISTENING PRACTICE

You will find a link to a video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYE7teZSv2U

You will answer some questions this time. The video is "a little" difficult, but the intention is to practice and try to understand most of it. Do your best!

How was Fred’s day at work?
What did Barney bring Bam-Bam?
Did Fred bring anything home?
What do Barney and Fred have to do?
How did Fred try to get out of Jury duty?
Why did Fred say the mangler is guilty?
Why did Fred panic?
Where did they hide?
What went wrong when Fred decided to be courageous?
Why did the mangler go after Fred?

Post your answers on by clicking on the word COMMENTS below.

Best wishes,

André

TAKE

Every intermediate student knows the meaning of the verb TAKE.

- I will take my son to the Zoo later.
- Do they take credit cards at Wal-Mart?

Still, there is a wide range of collocations that can be tricky for Portuguese speakers. Check out the examples and the problems you might face if you try to translate from portuguese to English. Remember the FIRST RULE: DO NOT TRANSLATE!


- Mary takes notes every time she is in a meeting.
(problem: DO NOTES is wrong)

- I will take a trip to Europe at the end of the year.
(problem: DO A TRIP is wrong)

- When did you start taking this course?
(problem: DO A COURSE is wrong)

- We need to take a break.
(problem: DO A BREAK is wrong)

- Jim has to take another test at school.
(problem: DO A TEST is not common)

You can also find a couple of other expressions:

TAKE A LOOK
TAKE A PILL
TAKE A CALL
TAKE AN INTERVIEW
TAKE A SEAT
TAKE A SHOWER

Hope you can benefit from the explanation above.
Best wishes,
André

LISTENING practice

You will find a link to a scene from the movie "The Great Dictator" below:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcvjoWOwnn4

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Fill in the blanks after watching the first 2 minutes of the video clip:

I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business. __________ ___________________________ or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone, if possible. Jew, Gentile, ___________________, _____________. We ________________________________; human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We ________ _______________________________________. In this world, ______________ ____________________ everyone and the good ________________________ and can __________________________ everyone.

__________________________________ be free and beautiful.

But ________________________________________.

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You can click on the word comments below and post your text on this blog. It will be checked ASAP.

Bets wishes,

André