Reading: Politics
Upper intermediate to advanced (B2-C2)
She is certainly well-known, or at least her image is. Her face is on stamps and the UK currency but most of the time she is only seen at royal visits or ceremonies. At the opening of Parliament the Queen reads a speech but this is written by the government. At Christmas she reads a message to the country but this is very formal and usually just a summary of some of the things that have happened in the year. Continue reading
Vocabulary and speaking
Pre-intermediate to upper intermediate level (A2-B2)
This week summer arrived. Now the temperature around Oxford is about 28 C. Of course you might not think that this is very hot but for most people here it’s hot enough. The maximum ever temperature in Oxford was 35 C. Continue reading
Pronunciation: syllable stress
Pre-intermediate to advanced level (A2-C2)
The highest mountain in Britain is Ben Nevis in Scotland. However I think the real mountains are in the language! Some students speak English with a flat accent but this makes their pronunciation very difficult to understand. Continue reading
Pronunciation and listening: Word linking
Intermediate and higher level (B1-C2)
In normal conversation it is common for many words to be linked together. This can make listening to English a little difficult at the beginning. You can learn how to link words together. Practising linking English words will improve your listening and speaking. Continue reading
IELTS: Writing
Yesterday I was grading some IELTS writing (academic module second task, 250 words). Here are some tips to help you with this question in the exam. Continue reading
Lower level (A1/A2)
You use the words in bold to talk about how often you do something:
Every Sunday morning I play golf with my friends. After the 18th hole we always have a large lunch and then go home. On Mondays I often play tennis with my cousin Susan at her sports club. If I don’t play tennis I watch horse racing on TV. Continue reading
Vocabulary
Upper intermediate to advanced level (B2/C1/C2)
In English many words have a special relationship with other words. For example verbs and nouns:
suggest an alternative
realise an ambition
make a change
pay one’s way
resolve a situation
live one’s dream Continue reading
Advanced level (C1/C2)
If someone has misunderstood you, you can give them more information to make clear who you are talking about: Continue reading
Vocabulary: verbs ‘must’ and ‘have to’
Pre-intermediate level (A2/B1)
Here are some of the rules for the staff at 2 companies using ‘must not’ and ‘don’t have to’: Continue reading
Advanced level (C1/C2)
Useful informal phrases are in bold. I hope your morning was better than this one: Continue reading
Grammar: uncountable nouns
Lower level English (A1-B1)
Oh no there’s nothing in the kitchen and I’m very hungry. Continue reading
Grammar: the future
Intermediate level (B1/B2)
Many English language learners think ‘will’ is the future tense and every time you talk about the future you need to use ‘will’. This seems to be taught in a lot of foreign schools. Continue reading
Grammar: punctuation
Intermediate level (B2)
Commas, colons, full stops … It’s probably true to say that less punctuation is used today than in the past but this doesn’t mean punctuation isn’t needed. Punctuation is really important when it can change the meaning of a sentence. I found this example in Wikipedia: Continue reading
Relationships vocabulary
Intermediate level English (B1)
Tom grew up in Brighton, not far from the sea. His parents met in March 1990 and after a short engagement they got married in July that year. Continue reading
Vocabulary: adverbs in a police story
Advanced level (C1)
Read the story and try to guess the meaning of the adverbs (in bold). Check with a dictionary to see if you are right. Continue reading
Reading and listening: London marathon and F1
Intermediate level (B1-B2)
Today it’s the London Marathon. Thousands of ordinary people will run past the famous sights of the capital such as the Cutty Sark, St Katharine Docks, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. Many will be raising money for their chosen charity in a carnival atmosphere. Also today is the Bahrain Grand Prix: exclusive, expensive and controversial. Quite a contrast!
Listen Two races
Pronunciation: vowel sounds
Elementary to intermediate level English (A2/B2)
English pronunciation is not very phonetic so it is useful to remember groups of words that have similar sounds. On each line 3 words have the same vowel sound but 1 is different. Which one is it? Continue reading
Writing: organising
Intermediate to higher level (B1-C1)
What is most important when you write? Is it grammar or vocabulary? In my opinion it is the organisation of sentences and paragraphs. Without a logical organisation, a piece of writing is often very difficult to read and understand. Continue reading
Lower level (A1/A2)
There are 12 adjectives in the text. Do you know them? Continue reading
Listening and reading: passenger ships
Intermediate level (B1/B2)
It’s a 100 years since the Titanic disaster. At the time people said it couldn’t be sunk. In January this year 32 people died when the Costa Concordia hit rocks off the Italian coast. When I see the size of the latest cruise ships, I wonder if an even worse disaster is just around the corner.
Listen Titanic arrogance
About the Titanic:
Here is a link to a website for all things Titanic
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/
Pre-intermediate/Intermediate Level (A2/B1)
People can say ‘have to’ or ‘have got to’ but there are some differences in how we say them:
‘I have to’ but not ‘I’ve to’ BUT ‘I’ve got to’ is OK
In ‘I have to’, ‘have’ is pronounced ‘haf‘ Continue reading
Intermediate level (B2)
‘Get’ is used all the time in everyday spoken English. You can get an email or get drunk or get married. Continue reading
Reading and listening
Intermediate level (B1-B2)
The annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race had to be stopped after an Australian protester swam in front of the boats. The race was restarted and Cambridge went on to win. What I don’t understand is why he needed to get so close to the boats and risk his life.
Listen Boat race
This famous university boat race started in 1829 after a challenge between 2 school friends. It takes place on the River Thames in West London every year. The course is 4.2 miles long – about 6.8 km. So far Cambridge have won 81 races and Oxford have only won 77. In 1877 it was a draw!
In its history there have been striking crew members and boats sinking so this years incident is just one of many.