Category Archives: Blog
Fun with Dictionaries
- Tuesday, 03 May 2016
You might think paper dictionaries are “serious” books that help us write our essays, but they can be used for fun language-learning and language-extension activities, too. Teachers and parents can try the following activities for intermediate to advanced learners of any age. 1. Dictionary Digging To play this game, give a series of clues. As […]
New Words and New Meanings
- Tuesday, 26 April 2016
Take the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year for 2013 “selfie” for instance. The first use of this word was in an Australian Internet forum. Selfie refers to taking a photograph of oneself using a smart phone, and is just a shortened form of “self portrait”. This word seemed to gain popularity quickly, mainly due […]
The Body’s Language
- Tuesday, 19 April 2016
The difference between the words that people speak and our understanding of what they are saying are often related to body language. This is what we mean by receiving or giving “mixed messages”. By being aware of how the body “talks”, you may more easily understand what people are really saying and thus more effectively […]
Punctuation: The “Traffic Signs” of English
- Tuesday, 12 April 2016
Punctuation marks can be thought of as the “traffic signs” of the English language. Knowing the “sign” that each punctuation mark represents helps us use it correctly in writing, and when reading. Comma = Speed Bump In English, a comma is used to indicate a slight pause or a break in the sentences. So […]
Getting to Know Words
- Tuesday, 05 April 2016
Getting to really “know” words is more than just a matter of memorising how to spell them and a vague idea when to use them. Like friendship, we need time to fully understand a word. The following are ten tips on how to form a long-lasting relationship to a word. The Meaning – Try to […]