LISTENING PRACTICE - HOMER SIMPSON IN THE VOTING BOOTH

Best wishes,

André

Funny Commercial

THE EFFECT OF BEER ON MEN:

NEWS - Crime

An FBI special agent was shot and killed Wednesday as he and other officials tried to serve a warrant in connection with a "violent drug distribution ring," an FBI official said.

FBI Agent Samuel Hicks was killed Wednesday while trying to serve a warrant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The agent, Samuel Hicks, was with other members of a multijurisdictional anti-drug task force that included agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said Michael Rodriguez, the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office.
Hicks was married and had a 3-year-old son.
"This is the most tragic information you can relay to any spouse, child, parent or colleague," Rodriguez said during a news conference. "He served with honor and bravery and will be greatly missed by his colleagues here in Pittsburgh and throughout the FBI."
Rodriguez said Hicks had been with the FBI since March 2006. Previously he had been an officer with the Baltimore Police Department and a teacher.
Rodriguez did not answer questions at the news conference.
A person at the home, about 10 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody, Rodriguez said.
CNN affiliate WTAE-TV reported that Robert Korbe, owner of the house where the warrant was served, was taken to Allegheny General Hospital. Police and staff members would not say why Korbe was at the hospital.
Shortly after noon, Korbe was taken from the hospital in handcuffs while wearing blue scrubs, WTAE reported.
Korbe was one of 35 people charged in a drug-trafficking indictment unsealed Wednesday, according to WTAE. The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to traffic cocaine and crack from October 2007 through September.

Source - cnn.com

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Look up the words you don't know in a dictionary, write their meanings down and think about examples to improve your English!!!

Best wishes,
André

FINANCIAL VOCABULARY

The words below are all related to some kind of payment. Pay close attention to the differences and learn how to properly use them.



CHARGE: amount of money paid for something. It can be used as a noun or verb.
- You don't have to worry about the charges. I got them all covered.
- The phone company charged me $1oo for a thirty-minute local call.

FEE: amount of money paid for a service.
- I will not study at that school because their fees are too high.
- Jack paid a forty-dollar fee to have his contract signed by an official.

RATE: 1. amount of money paid for a room at a hotel. 2. number / percentage indicator.
- How much is the daily rate?
- The rate of unemployed people has decreased in SP.
- SELIC is an interest rate.

TAX: amount of money paid to the government.
- Everybody has to pay taxes.
- Income taxes are deducted from your salary before you get it.

FARE: amount of money paid for transportation.
- I don't know how much a bus fare is in Sorocaba.
- Internet air fares are usually lower than the ones we check at travel agencies.

PRICE: amount of money paid for a product.
- Prices will probably go up next month.
- That store has such high prices.

TOLL: amount of money paid in order to do something, usually a privilege.
- You will have to pay a toll to take this highway.
- There is a toll that must be paid in order to cross the bridge.


Best wishes,
André

Present and Past simple

Practicing is never too much...

Present

http://worldofenglish.com/exe.php?Tenses/Simple/Present/build.tra
http://www.isabelperez.com/pr-simple.htm
http://www.isabelperez.com/pr-simple-neg.htm
http://www.isabelperez.com/q1.htm
http://www.isabelperez.com/q-a-easy.htm
http://www.isabelperez.com/presentne.htm

Past

http://worldofenglish.com/exe.php?Tenses/Simple/Past/forms.mem
http://www.isabelperez.com/happy/tenses/past_simple.htm
http://www.isabelperez.com/exer/pastmix.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?04
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?02
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?05

Best wishes,
André

CONDITIONALS 4

ZERO CONDITONAL = TRUE FACT
.
The construction is:
.
IF + verb (simple preset conjugation) = verb (simple present conjugation)
.
.
If it doesn't rain, plants don't grow.
.
Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees.
.
Turn the lights off if you want the room to get dark.
.
If I drink coffee, I get a headache.
.
OBS: The conjunction IF can often be substituted by the words WHEN or UNLESS.
.
Take a look at the links below:
.
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/330/grammar/0cond1.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/type0/exercise1.html
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/type0/exercise2.html
http://www.stclaresenglish.net/langprac/con0ex1.htm
.
Best wishes,
André

CONDITIONALS 3

THIRD CONDITIONAL = UNREAL / IMAGINARY PAST
.
The construction is:
.
IF + verb (past perfect conjugation) =
WOULD/COULD/MIGHT HAVE + past participle verb
.
.
If I'd known you'd bring cookies to the party, I would've brought sth different.
(we both brought cookies)
.
Mary could have injured herself if she hadn't been wearing the seat belt.
(she didn't injure herself)
.
Jack wouldn't have met his friends if he had stayed home.
(he met his friends)
.
If you'd been more careful, you might not have broken the glass.
(you broke the glass)
.
Take a look at this interesting explanation with illustrative examples:
.
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/gr_movie/s_3_cond/index.htm
.
Take a look at the links below:
.
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/410/grammar/3cond1.htm
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/con31.htm
http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/3rdconditional.php3
http://www.mariposa-services.com/pages/e5cond3_match.htm
.
You should remember this kind of conditional indicates sth is IMAGINARY in the past.
.
Best wishes,
André

CONDITIONALS 2

SECOND CONDITONAL = UNREAL / IMAGINARY PRESENT

The contruction is:

IF + verb (past conjugation) = WOULD + infinitive verb
.

.

.

- If I had money, I would buy a new car.
(I don't have money)

.

- John would meet his friends at the bar if he didn't have to work overtime.
(John has to work overtime)

.
- If it was raining, we'd go for a walk in the park.

(It's raining)

.

- I wouldn't go there if I were you.

(I can't stay home)

.

OBS: In imaginary conditionals, WERE is grammatically accepted when the verb to be is conjugated. However, WAS is conversationally accepted in any situation, except in the condition "IF I WERE YOU".

.
Take a look at the links below:

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/2cond1.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/2cond2.htm
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/cond2.htm
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/secondconditional1.htm

You should remember this kind of conditional indicates sth is IMAGINARY.

.

Watch the following video to practice listening:

.

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

.

Best wishes,
André

CONDITIONALS 1

Conditionals are usually rated as "hard-to-understand" grammar points.

As a matter of fact, it's quite simple to get the hang of using such sentences.

Conditional sentences are characterized by the use of the conjunction IF. There are three different conditional cases:

1. Future possible condition (First conditional);

2. Imaginary present (Second conditional);

3. Imaginary past (third conditional).

Let's focus on the use of the FIRST CONDITIONAL = FUTURE POSSIBLE SITUATION

The construction is:

IF + verb (present conjugation) = WILL + infinitive verb

- If I have enough money, I will travel to the beach on my next vacation.

- Julia will finish her report if she doesn't get any other calls.

- If it rains, we'll have to stay home.

- Tom won't buy a new car if he doesn'tc sell his old one.

Take a look at the links below:

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/1cond2.htm

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/firstconditional1.htm

http://www.mariposa-services.com/pages/e3cond1_match.htm

You should remember this kind of conditional indicates sth is POSSIBLE

Best wishes,

André

SAY x TELL

These two verbs confuse nine out of ten students. Still, using them is not that complicated and you'll find a quick and straightforward explanation to master the difference in use below:



SAY: followed by something.
(you can also use SAY STH TO SB, but prefer not to do it)

- She said she had to go to a doctor's appointment.
- I never said I was the only guy responsible for that.
- Bob said bad things about the program.

TELL: followed by someone.

- I have already told you this is not an easy decision to take.
- What did you tell her?
- Pam didn't tell me anything about the weather.

TALK: used to indicate conversation. The structure is TALK TO SB ABOUT STH.

- I talked to my father about the car.

- I don't know what they were talking about.

- Jack didn't talk to me in the morning.

SPEAK: indicates the ability of using a language.

(there are other ways, but prefer the other options)

- I speak three languages.

- I can't hear you! You are speaking too low.

- How long does it take how to speak English?

Click on the links below:

http://www.iei.uiuc.edu/structure/Structure1/saytell.html

http://www.languageproject.co.uk/free_exercises/exercise_page.php?ID=8

Best wishes,

André

MODALS and INDICATORS

I know grammar is boring, but it shouldn't be like that. You don't have to understand it quite well... all you have to do is use it to indicate things. For instance, if you want to indicate action in the past, you know that most verbs will take -ED at the end and a few of them will change. Only that!!! You don't have to learn that changing verbs are called irregular and the others are called regular. You don't need that. What you actually need is reference and indication.

Following that line of thought, check out the list of words that can help you be accurate when trying to communicate:

SHOULD: indicates sth is important / prudent
- You should study English more often.

HAD BETTER: indicates recommendation
- You'd better avoid mentioning those problems in the meeting.

WOULD: consequence that is not real.
- If you lived in Spain, you would learn how to speak Spanish.

COULD: indicates possibility (either in the past or formal)
- You could take some exams to find out if you have a disease or not.

CAN: indicates possibility
- We can find great articles on that site.

MAY: indicates high probability and probability that is under your control.
- We may have to face a serious issue soon.

MIGHT: indicates low probability and probability that is out of your control.
- I think it might rain tonight.

MUST: indicates deduction and obligation (formal).
- Tom must be tired. Look at him!

OUGHT TO: SHOULD (not common)
- We ought to take care of these issues.

SHALL: indicates "let's". It is only used with WE and I. (formal and obsolete)
- Shall we begin the meeting?

TO BE SUPPOSED TO: indicates expectation.
- I am supposed to meet my friends at the mall. (I may or may not go)

HAVE TO: indicates obligation.
- They have to finish the project until Monday.

HAVE GOT TO: indicates necessity or obligation.
- I've got to go now.

NEED TO: indicates necessity.
- I need to buy food at the supermarket.

NOT TO BE SUPPOSED TO: indicates prohibition.
- You are not supposed to eat red meat! You heard the doctor!

TO BE LIKELY TO: indicates tendency.
- We are likely to accept their offer.

USED TO: indicates sth was common in the past, but not anymore.
- I used to have more free time.

TO BE USED TO: indicates sb is accustomed to sth.
- Larry is used to arriving at work late.

ATTENTION:

Present / Future
- You should learn another language.
Past
- You should have learned another language. (now it is too late to learn another language)

Click on the links below to master the use of the "indicators" shown above:
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/auxiliary-verbs/exercises
http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/lefg1_mixedmodals2.html
http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/lefg3_mightnotcouldnot.html
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal5.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal8.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/usedto/exercise4.html


Best wishes,
André

LOVE VOCABULARY

LOVE is undoubtedly one of the best subjects to talk about when you feel it. People can say it's a gay thing for men to come up with, people can say it's not supposed to be talked about, people can say it's something beyond words. I prefer to call it one of our greatest gifts.

LOVE can be expressed in different ways: You can show love for your family, your friends, your job or even your country. It's hard to define such a feeling. You just know it's there!!!
.


Pay attention to the way you can use words to describe a relationship between two people:

I'm seeing someone.
(going out with someone, without a strong bond)
I'm dating someone.
(in a relationship)
That woman and I are going steady.
(continuously going out)
I was just flirting with her.
(trying to go out)
We just had a fling for a couple of months.
(brief sexual or romantic relationship)
I found out my wife was having an affair.
(a secretive or illicit relationship)
She knew her husband was cheating on her.
(going out with someone else behind her back)
That guy was hitting on me.
(flirting)
We just had a one-night stand.
(slept together for one night)
She dumped me out of the blue.
(rudely stopped dating)
She's crying because her boyfriend broke up with her.
(ended a realtionship)

Check out the following link and try to distinguish some terms:
http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/vocabulary/lefg2_vocabulary15.html

Take a look at the possible ways of expressing love again:

I like you.
(not so strong, but conveyance that there are good feelings involved)
I care for you.
(indicates somebody's happiness and health mean a lot)
I fancy you.
(there is an attraction and strong feeling involved)
I adore you.
(stronger than like)
I cherish you.
(there is affection and tenderness involved)
I am really fond of you.
(strong affection)
I am keen on you.
(indicates there is interest and desire)
I am head over heels in love with you.
(indicates deep love)
I fell in love with you.
(indicates change from like to love)
I am deeply in love with you.
(strong feelings)
I have a crush on you.
(strong but usually temporary attraction)
It was love at first sight!
(there was a strong connection before someone even said anything)
I am crazy for you.
(too much love, extreme)
I can't live without you.
(too much love, extreme)

Best wishes,
André

ADDITIONAL LISTENING EXERCISES

Take a look at the following links:

City tips:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G036-CityTips.html

Action:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G030-WhatTalk.html

Favors:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G028-Favor.html

Money:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G020-Money.html

Best wishes,
André

LISTENING GAMES

Improving vocabulary is not always a comfortable or quick activity. Still, you'll be able to find alternative ways to make this process interesting.

Listening is crucial!
Click on the links below to practice vocabulary related to different topics:

Sports:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G040-Sports.html

Appliances:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G038-Appliances.html

Signs:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G027-Signs.html

Clothes:
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G025-Clothes.html

Best wishes,
André

PRONUNCIATION

You are watching a movie. The guy says something you can't understand. You rewind the scene and try to get the words he uses. Once again, you are unable to make sense out of it. Shit!!! You give it another try and nothing changes! Then, you decide to turn the subtitles on and you find out everything he says you know quite well. Disappointing???

*rewind = return a scene or movie to the beginning

Pronunciation is one of the most important features of the English language.
There is one general rule that is 100% effective:

VOWEL + T / D + VOWEL = T / D is transformed into "R".

Take a look at the sentences below:

"She said hello to me on the phone"

She said HELLO TO me on the phone.

She said [rélôuru] me on the phone.

Teacher, is it wrong to say HELLO TO??? No, you can actually say each word, but how often do you think you will hear someone say each word??? The problem lies in listening, not speaking.
*lie in = to be located in

Pay attention to the changes the following sentence goes through:

"I have GOT TO go home"
"I've GOT TO go home"
"I GOT TO go home"
"I GOTTA go home" = I [góra] go home.

Other examples:
What are you doing?
[uóraryou] doing?
I had a problem.
I [réra] a problem.
Wait a minute.
[uêira] minute.

Next time you catch a movie to watch at home, try to identify the trasnformation and recognize the sound of the words.
Got any questions? Get in touch with me!
[górêni] questions? [gérin] touch with me!

Best wishes,
André

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:

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

.

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

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

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

.
Best wishes,
André

SINGULAR - PLURAL

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


Man = Men.
Leaf = Leaves.
Mouse = Mice.
News = News.
Company = Companies
..
Check out the following links to practice plural and singular forms:
.
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