despre scoala...altfel

English Phonetics and Phonology (Games)

2010-08-19T05:11:00.000-07:00

If the above one confuses you try the following link:

yes, I mean this one

Fun guaranteed!

English Phonetics and Phonology

2010-08-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

One of my former students spends her vacation studying for an exam.

I know what she is going through because some years ago, while in college, we used to study the same subject.
Having to study Makarenko was a nuisance.It is difficult to learn a language theoretically and not through practice.
Exams require definitions. Reading books like this becomes a mathematical problem or a jigsaw.

But in the end, I must admit that it was interesting.
Romanic languages as mine and Anglo-Saxon ones are so different! Thus,I tend to believe that books like the one below, offer the posibility to gain a new perspective upon the world. Simply by knowing that your way of naming the things is not unique or less poetic than the other's way of doing this. To me learning a new language is a lesson of tolerance and respect.

I still have lots of things to learn but I want to share what I know so far with you.

RSA Animate - The Secret Powers of Time

2010-08-10T01:08:00.000-07:00

Little prince (Competition nr.2)

2010-08-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11

Questions:
1. In which of the above fragments there's a song about flowers? Can you tell me which flowers are mentioned in the song?
2. What are the different meanings of the word *well*?

Is there a metaphor? Standing for what?

When do we have to use good and when do we have to use well?
for more details check
here!
3. In which of the fragments above there's a dance slightly resemembling to Michael Jackson's dance?
4. Part 9 is my favourite.

What is the significance of the word tame for you?

Prepositions

2010-07-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Prepositions are awful for a non-native speaker.
Altogether with phrasal verbs and idioms.
You would think that there are some rules which can teach you how to choose in a confident manner what to use in certain situations. But there aren't.

Prepositions are like wagoons of a train.
They don't function alone but they have a purpose: showing location, direction, movement, time, etc....

for more information check this site

And do bother taking the quizzes :)

Nouns. Plural. (1)

2010-04-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

GOOSE?

GEESE!

My brother has some problems when it comes to plural forms. Today, while I was trying to explain him the rules I found this lovely site. It might be a bit easy for some, but it's of a great help for the basic stuff. So check the link below and as always, have fun!

exercices

Funny videos (1)

2009-12-28T05:50:00.000-08:00

There are lots of ways of learning English.
One way is by watching funny videos like the one below.
I got it from Youtube and you'll find the whole series there.
Youtube is not only for songs, which are great btw, but you can use it as an educational tool as well.

If you do happen to know other interesting links post them in the comment box so that we all can benefit of them.

Christmas challenge

2009-12-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

Snow and baked apples, cinnamon or just a hot cocoa by the fire, friends, carols and imaginary letters to Santa and more than that the general feeling that we can all make the world a better place is to be part of the definition for this time of the year.It's not part of the movie, I hope.
Well,I know, I know, there is no snow outside and the winter is slowly turning to spring as far as temperature goes and maybe you are too lazy to prepare a hot cocoa right now.You are sitting here (again!) in front of your Pc, so let's sing together and then play a christmas game. The link is below and I dare you to follow it.

click here!

List of Irregular Verbs (1)

2009-11-17T03:53:00.001-08:00

No need of learning the Past tense of verbs in the old-fashioned way. Here's a link that may help you.

***

But of course, you can learn it in the traditional way too.

Infinitive ------Simple Past

awake-----> awoke,awaked
be ----->was, were
beat-----> beat
become-----> became
begin-----> began
bend-----> bent
bet ----->bet,betted
bite ----->bit
bleed-----> bled
bless-----> blessed, blest
blow-----> blew
break-----> broke
bring-----> brought
build-----> built
burn-----> burnt, burned
burst-----> burst
buy-----> bought
can-----> could
catch-----> caught
choose-----> chose
come-----> came
cost-----> cost
cut ----->cut
do-----> did
draw-----> drew
dream-----> dreamt, dreamed
drink-----> drank
drive-----> drove
eat-----> ate
fall-----> fell
feed-----> fed
feel-----> felt
fight-----> fought
find-----> found
fly-----> flew
forbid-----> forbad, forbade
forget-----> forgot
freeze-----> froze
get-----> got
give-----> gave
go-----> went
grow-----> grew
hang-----> hung
have ----->had
hear-----> heard
hide-----> hid
hit-----> hit
hold-----> held
hurt-----> hurt
keep ----->Kept

50 verbs per activity is enough, isn't it? :)

Competition no. 1

2009-11-13T02:42:00.000-08:00

Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

THINGS TO DO:

1. Go to this place and read a bit more about him;
2.What is the connection between these stanzas and the movie "DANGEROUS MINDS"(1995)?
3.Can you write a few lines about the inner message of the poem?

Who moved my cheese?

2009-11-12T06:08:00.000-08:00

1.listen here!

2. Write a few lines in the comment box, giving answer to the following questions:
a) name one character
b)what is the hidden meaning of the text?
c)write your own opinion about what makes us happy in life!

English tenses- present-

2009-11-12T05:46:00.000-08:00

1.We use the simple present tense when:

the action is general
the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
the action is not only happening now
the statement is always true
e.g

It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future

2.We use the present continuous tense to talk about:

a)action happening now

The smiley is laughing now.

b)action in the future

They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
When are you starting your new job?

3.This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense:

experience
change
continuing situation

I have bought a car. (Last week I didn't have a car.)
The police have arrested the killer.(Yesterday the killer was free.Now he is in prison)
I have worked here since June.
He has been ill for 2 days.
How long have you known Tara?

4.How do we make the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is:

subject + auxiliary verb + auxiliary verb + main verb
have
has been base + ing

I'm tired [now] because I've been running.
I have been reading for 2 hours. [I am still reading now.]
He has been playing football for a long time.