ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS

COLLECTING COLLOCATIONS:

SPEAK LIKE A NATIVE!

Cristobal Gomez*

KAPLAN INTL LANGUAGES 

BLOG
February 12, 2021

Collocations in the English language refer to the relationship that is formed between certain words. The connection is so strong that it would sound strange to replace either word for one with the exact same meaning.
For example, the term “fast food” is a generally accepted collocation. “Quick” and “fast” mean the same thing, but If you swapped the word “fast” for “quick” and instead said “quick food”, people would have no idea that you were referring to a takeaway restaurant. Similarly, if you changed the word “food” for “meal” and said “fast meal”, you might receive a strange look from whomever you are talking to.
Word pairings are very important in English, and unfortunately there is no easy rule to learn; you just have to try and remember. The hardest part about collocations is that native speakers won’t necessarily know why the wrong words sound strange: the general rule is just “that’s what sounds right!” But the good news is that, once you’ve mastered collocations, you’ll sound just like a native speaker.
Categorising collocations can make it easier to learn them.

STRONG VS WEAK COLLOCATIONS

Strong collocations are those with words that don’t match to many other words. The connection is quite strong because there are very few other acceptable options to say the same thing. For example, the expression “turn on a light” is a strong collocation. Most other synonyms will sound very strange and unnatural, whether “start a light”, “activate a light”, etc.
Weak collocations are the reverse of this. They include words that have many other options. The expression “very interesting” is commonly used, but the collocation is weak: “extremely interesting”, and “really interesting” are all acceptable substitutes.

GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS

Collocations can also be sorted into grammatical categories. These include:

Adjective + noun:

• strong coffee (not “heavy coffee”)
• heavy traffic (not “large traffic”)
• express mail (not “quick mail”)

Adverb + adjective:

• partly cloudy (not “slightly cloudy”)
• happily married (not “gladly married”)
• highly generous (not “greatly generous”)

Noun + noun:

• bars of soap (not “bricks of soap”)
• round of applause (not “bang of applause”)
• a swarm of insects (not “a herd of insects”)

Noun + verb:

• prices fall (not “prices descend”)
• a lion roars (not “a lion shouts”)
• the wind howls (not “the wind screams”)

Verb + noun:

• make the bed (not “do the bed”)
• do the shopping (not “make the shopping”)
• put on clothes (not “place on clothes”)

Verb + expression with a preposition

• He comments on the painting. (not “He comments about the painting.”)
• participate in a conference (not “participate at a conference”)
• explain to someone (not “explain at someone”)

Verb + adverb:

• drive safely (not “drive securely”)
• choose wisely (not “choose smartly”)
• responded quickly (not “responded swiftly”)

*Cristobal Gomez is the Global Marketing Manager of Kaplan International Languages; and he’s based in London HQ. Born in Málaga, Spain, Cris has always had a passion for languages; learning English as a second language himself. Cris has worked for in a wide variety of roles for different companies in the ELT space. Over the last four years, Cris has worked in administration, school operations, sales, managed a Juniors’ camp and is now busy running around with a clipboard in marketing. Cris is a musician, a basketballer and self-professed “gamer”.

Adapted from: https://origin.kaplaninternational.com/blog/learning-languages/eng/collecting-collocations-speak-like-a-native. Accessed on March 31, 2021.

EDUCATION NETWORKS

The use of data in education provides knowledge about the reality of teaching and allows planning actions

Students performance and presence in class are some of the information that can be collected; crossing and monitoring indicators and setting goals are essential in the process

OBSERVATÓRIO ENSINO

DA LÍNGUA INGLESA

Newsroom - March 25, 2021

The use of data is key for management in any area. In education in general, and particularly in foreign language teaching this is no different. In both the public and private sectors, and within schools or educational systems, data analysis, such as students performance in assessments, presence in classes, and dropout, allows the leader to have access to a set of information and scenarios, which guides decision making and the adoption of actions and interventions towards improving the teaching and learning process.
At the governmental level, the data are relevant to guide public policies. The results of national exams, such as Prova Brasil (a large scale assessment of the Brazilian educational system composed of standardised exams and socio-economic questionnaires) and the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (National High School Exam, shortened as Enem), for example, indicate the regions that need more attention concerning funds, teacher training, and support for students.
“The triangulation of these [educational] data with socioeconomic indicators of unemployment and violence, for example, can also bring information for the establishment of social programmes that go beyond school and can contribute to improving the school performance of students in that community”, says Isabela Villas Boas, partner-director of Troika, educational project consultancy, in São Paulo (SP).
The analysis of educational data may not be so simple, but some initiatives make it easier to access and view this information. The QEdu platform, for example, compiles data from several official sources, such as Prova Brasil, the School Census, the Basic Education Development Index (Ideb) and Enem. The information can be accessed at the school, city, state and Brazil levels, allowing comparisons of indicators over time. Another example, in the governmental sphere, is the Open Data Portal of the Education Secretariat of the State of São Paulo, where it is possible to find information on educational indicators, schools and enrollments in the state education network.
The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, in turn, provides the platform Choose the School, which compiles quality and infrastructure indicators for 135,000 public and private schools in the country. The offer of language teaching, and English specifically, is one of the criteria offered for the search for schools on the website.

Indicators in English teaching

English language data can also be used to better understand the scenario and seek improvements in the quality of language teaching. The British Council, one of the partner institutions of the Skills for Prosperity programme carried out by the British government in Brazil, has already published several studies based on data on the teaching of English in the country. The 2014 survey “Learning English in Brazil” sought to understand the most common scenario and practices in the Brazilian market, focusing on aspects related to work and employability, revealing that only 5.1% of Brazilians with 16 years or more claimed to have some knowledge of English.
The study “Public policies for English teaching“, from 2019, brought an overview and experiences of teaching the language in the state networks. The analyzed data provided information on how much the Brazilian states structured and consolidated the teaching of the English language, besides bringing examples of good practices that happen throughout Brazil.
Isabela, who was also an academic corporate manager at Casa Thomas Jefferson, a non-profit English school in Brasilia (DF), provides some examples of how data can assist in language teaching. “We can draw conclusions about the effectiveness of a particular teaching methodology, for example, with data on student performance after learning cycles. Data on the training and proficiency level of teachers, on the other hand, inform decisions about continuing education programs ”, she adds.

Use of different sources

An important factor when working with data, according to Isabela, is to contemplate different aspects of what you want to measure so that the interpretation is not biased. For example, in order to assess the effectiveness of teaching, one can cross-check the results of the students in exams with other information, such as attendance, socioeconomic level, and teacher performance.
In the case of the exchange of teaching materials in an English course, for example, it is possible to analyse the impact of this change on the results of the students, also considering data on the satisfaction of students and teachers with the old and new material. Another important piece of information would be the retention rate before and after the adoption of new material or some innovation in the course. “If we make changes and do not measure the results, we have no way of knowing whether they were effective or not,” says Isabela.
She says that international English scholarship programmes for disadvantaged students use performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of the initiative. There is also the monitoring of alumni to measure the impact of the program on the educational and professional lives of these students. “Only with these data, measuring the students’ learning gains and their impact on their lives, the funding agencies can make decisions about the continuity of the programmes, changes that need to be made and the effectiveness of the partners, among others”.

Data guiding actions

Another fundamental point, according to Isabela, is that just collecting data and transforming it into information is not enough. It is necessary to establish short, medium, and long-term goals, to implement improvements, and to follow a continuous process of monitoring these indicators.
This is what the Mato Grosso do Sul State Department of Education does, which is part of the Skills for Prosperity programme and integrates a network with 79 municipalities, 347 schools, 12 educational centres, and 94 extensions (which are parts of schools in farms, rural settlements or indigenous communities). Through a computerised system – the School Data Management System (SGDE) -, the secretariat has information by student, class, school, municipality, and region, contemplating the state as a whole. Among the data are students’ grades in all subjects, with a bi-monthly update, and attendance record in an online diary, both filled out directly by the teachers.
“If there is a student with a low school attendance rate, a section of the secretariat responsible for the active search of that student and for knowing why he is not attending classes is immediately activated”, says Paulo Cezar Rodrigues dos Santos, Superintendent of Information and Technology of the secretariat.
Likewise, at the end of the semester, there is a map showing the performance of all students, of all classes, if each one is doing well or if there is a risk of failure in any course. “This facilitates the work of the school’s leader and pedagogical coordination in learning about the situation and making an intervention. And also for the education department, to plan a broader action, if necessary”, points out Paulo Cezar.
He gives an example of what happened during the pandemic, in 2020. “In the beginning, we needed to know how the students of the network were adapting to the new scenario – if they were following the classes via technological resources, printed material, a hybrid model, or if they were not following the classes anyway. Through the system, teachers answered these questions, student by student, for all their classes. So, we had a very accurate indicator of the state network, which was fundamental to rethink many aspects of how to conduct education in this pandemic period.”
At the end of the year, says Paulo Cezar, it was necessary to know how many students were above or below the average and how many had not yet been evaluated, as they were not attending school units or carrying out activities remotely.
“These actions were essential for the success of the network. Incredibly, in a pandemic year, we had a lower failure rate than in previous years. This happened, largely because of the analysis of these data and the interventions that we promoted”, he highlights.
For him, working with data and indicators is fundamental for the advancement of education. “You need to know your network’s situation very clearly to solve problems. And there’s no way to do that if we don’t have data. But the analysis of the data must generate an action.”

How to start using data

Isabela Villas Boas shows a step by step and a practical example on how to start working with data in school management.

Reflexion about the subject
The first point is to reflect on what you want. To do this, ask yourself:

• What indicators do I want to monitor?
• What data will help me monitor each of these indicators?
• How often will I monitor these indicators?
• How will the data be collected?
• How to transform this data into information?
• What will I do with the result?

Team involvement

• The ideal is to involve the entire pedagogical team in the elaboration of this management plan. The more collaborative this management is, the more involved everyone will be in obtaining better results.
• It is also important to use various types of data and triangulate them so that the indicator can be analysed from different perspectives.

Practical example

• Indicator: teaching results.
• Data: grades of the students in school assessments, student performance in national assessments (if applicable), teacher performance (class observations), perceptions of results of students and parents.
• Analysis: correlation between results of school assessments and results of national assessments; correlation between teacher performance and student results; the correlation of these data with results of a questionnaire applied to parents and students (it can be done over the internet, using digital tools).
• Frequency: at the end of each semester.
• Action plan to improve results: establish a goal and plan the intervention (through the continuous training of teachers, reformulation of the teaching proposal, and reformulation of assessment instruments, for example). Monitor the indicator, collecting and analysing the data again, and verify if the goal has been reached.
• Attention: it is also important to go deeper into the analysis of the problem and make use of qualitative methods. For example, after the application of questionnaires for parents and students, it is possible to go deeper into some issues pointed out in the results through focus groups (group interviews).

Source: https://www.inglesnasescolas.org/en/headline/the-use-of-data-in-education-provides-knowledge-about-the-reality-of-teaching-and-allows-planning-actions/. Also in Portuguese: https://www.inglesnasescolas.org/headline/uso-de-dados-na-educacao-permite-conhecer-a-realidade-do-ensino-e-planejar-acoes/. Accessed on March 31, 2021.

FUN WITH LANGUAGES

7 WAYS THE INTERNET HAS CHANGED

THE WAY PEOPLE SPEAK

KAPLAN INTL LANGUAGES (BLOG)

Jan. 21, 2021

It's a common myth that the dictionary is the ultimate authority on what counts as a 'word' in a language. In reality, dictionaries reflect only a small selection of the massive vocabularies in use in living languages. What's more, language is changing all the time.
This has never been truer than in the digital age, when technology seems to change almost as fast as language. Social media allows individuals to communicate with mass audiences on a global scale, and we participate in more conversations on a daily basis than ever before.
The words we use have rapidly adapted to reflect this change in our times. Many common words were born from our addiction to online media. 10 years ago today, Twitter, one of the most popular forms of social media, was founded. To celebrate their anniversary, here're 7 words that exist solely due to the digital world.

1. TROLLING

Traditionally, trolls are ugly, violent creatures that live under bridges and eat billy goats for fun.
In the digital age, the term has evolved. Now when we talk about 'Internet trolls' we refer to people who post comments that deliberately cause arguments, disruption, or sometimes even insults.
Don't be a troll.

2. EMOJI

An emoji is a small pictograph used to express emotion in the digital world. Emojis, and their precursors – emoticons – were invented to enable users to clearly communicate tone and emotion in written text.
One of the downsides of digital media is that many of the signals we use to communicate, like body language, intonation and facial expressions, are harder to show online. Emojis help us set the tone of a conversation and show more emotion.

3. SELFIE

One of the great innovations of the Internet age has allowed web users to communicate visually using photographs. Almost universally, the population of the Internet has decided to express this newfound creative freedom by taking photos of themselves.
The first mention of the word 'selfie' was spotted on an Australian Internet forum in 2002. From there it has been subject to rapid adoption across the English-speaking world. These days, it can even be found in newspaper headlines.
Many languages have their own word for selfie. For example, the Japanese for selfie is 'Jidori', literally translating to self-photo.
What does 'selfie' translate to in your native language?

4. FACEBOOK

Unbeknownst to many Internet users, the web is largely run by corporate interest. Our language has adapted to reflect this, and many of the words we use every day have evolved from corporate brands.
Facebook, for example, is now commonly used as a verb:
"I need to tell everyone about this event on Saturday."
"Just Facebook it."
This is the case with many brand names like Google, Youtube, Twitter and Uber. What online brands have made their way into your vocabulary?

5. BLOGGING/VLOGGING

Blogs are an essential part of Internet culture and are the driving force behind the social change that the internet represents. Blogs give individuals the power to publish their content worldwide, fostering a culture of new ideas and unique perspectives.
The word blog itself is a contraction (shortening) of the phrase 'web log' and was coined by Peter Merholz in 1999. Similarly, 'vlog' is a contraction of the phrase 'video blog'.
Blogging can be a great way of keeping track of and practicing your English studies. Why not give it a go?

6. UNLIKE

Before the Internet, the opposite of 'to like' was always 'to dislike'. However, in the age of Facebook and Twitter, the verb 'like' has gone through some subtle changes of meaning.
With the introduction of the Facebook like button, liking turned from a passive activity to a live action - we 'like' something by clicking a button and registering our approval. Conversely, we can now 'unlike' something when it stops being cool, removing our approval forevermore.
One day, it may even be possible to also 'relike' items, but let's not open that crazy kettle of fish.

7. SRSLY

Despite it's fatal lack of vowels, 'srsly' is now a dictionary defined word. As a contraction of 'seriously', often being used to mean either 'seriously' or 'serious', it's a relatively common word that is used frequently in instant messaging text conversations. For example:
"OMG bro u srsly?"
Translation: "My good friend, are you serious?"
Whilst this contraction is fairly self-evident, 'srsly' gives us a fascinating insight into the way in which language itself changes over time. As languages age, the words we use tend become reduced to their shortest form. This is unless the word is being used actively to contrast against other words, or as a marker of a speaker's social identity. On the Internet, this process happens at an extremely rapid pace!

So there you are: 7 words that were invented solely on the Internet, each of them giving us some unique insight into the way languages change.

What word will you invent next?

Adapted from: https://www.kaplaninternational.com/blog/fun-languages/eng/7-ways-internet-has-changed-way-people-speak. Accessed on March 30, 2021.

PODCASTS

PODCASTS EM INGLÊS

saiba como eles podem ajudar nos estudos

BLOG WIZARD

27 de maio de 2020

Que tal aproveitar a onda de podcasts que se instalou na internet nos últimos anos para treinar o seu inglês? Isso mesmo, essa nova plataforma de conteúdo pode ajudar quem está estudando o idioma. Veja como você pode aproveitar o tempo em casa para se entreter e praticar inglês ao mesmo tempo.

Listening

Por se tratar de um conteúdo totalmente em áudio, é claro que o principal benefício para os seus estudos é a melhora na sua capacidade de compreensão de conversas em inglês. Além disso, você aprende mais palavras, o que enriquece o vocabulário. Você pode, também, treinar a sua pronúncia de palavras, ouvindo algumas delas e repetindo em voz alta.

Mais conexão com a língua

Quando o ato de ouvir podcasts em inglês se torna um hábito no seu cotidiano, você se familiariza mais com o idioma e passa a criar conexões com ele. Para o cérebro, isso é fundamental para transformar a sensação de escutar conteúdos em inglês em algo prazeroso e satisfatório.

Qual podcast escolher?

A escolha de qual podcast ouvir é importante nesse processo. Lembre-se de que, em primeiro lugar, essa deve ser uma atividade prazerosa, pois você não vai querer ouvir um conteúdo por obrigação. Então, procure algum sobre um tema de que você goste. Provavelmente, haverá algumas opções. Nesse caso, ouça um pouco de cada um, veja com qual você mais se identifica e passe a acompanhar o conteúdo.

Cuidado com a linguagem

Se você está iniciando os seus estudos em inglês, procure primeiro por aqueles podcasts em que os interlocutores falam de maneira mais pausada, para que você consiga compreender melhor o idioma. Claro que nem sempre é possível entender 100% das palavras, mas se você conseguir captar cerca de 70% do que está sendo dito, já é um treino satisfatório. Quando sentir que está avançando nos estudos de inglês, procure outros podcasts mais avançados.

Quer sugestões?

Para encerrar esse conteúdo, deixaremos quatro podcasts para quem quer aprender inglês. Confira:

• English Experts Podcasts – Indicado para iniciantes nos estudos de inglês.
• Voice of America – Linguagem mais complexa, voltado para o nível intermediário de inglês.
• English in a Minute – Dos mesmos criadores do Voice of America, esse podcast ensina expressões usadas em inglês. É uma ótima opção para aumentar o vocabulário no idioma.
• Better at English – Com um estilo mais dinâmico, esse podcast é voltado para aqueles em nível avançado.

Adaptado de: https://www.wizard.com.br/idiomas/podcasts-em-ingles-podem-ajudar-nos-estudos/. Acesso em: 30.mar.2021.

ENGLISH LESSON PLANS

PEANUTS LESSON PLANS

Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the Peanuts Gang keep kids engaged and entertained while sharpening STEM, Language Arts, and Social Studies skills. These free resources, created for students ages 4–13, are available in 11 languages. CLICK HERE.

Plano de Aulas: ensinando mensagens sobre cuidados às crianças

Take Care With Peanuts é um bloco com planos de aulas construído em cima de três mensagens fundamentais: Cuidar de Si Mesmo, com foco no bem-estar físico e mental; Cuidar Uns dos Outros, sobre comunidade e filantropia; e Cuidar da Terra, sobre natureza e sustentabilidade. A ideia é tirarmos um tempinho para cuidarmos de nós mesmos, dos outros, do nosso lar, dos animais e do planeta.
Inspirada nas tirinhas inesquecíveis de Charles Schulz, o criador do Charlie Brown, a Peanuts Worldwide trará ao Brasil, a partir do 1º semestre de 2021, a iniciativa “Take Care With Peanuts”, ou “Se Cuida Com o Minduim” em tradução livre. A campanha de cuidados comemora os 70 anos do Minduim, e lembra a todos como ser cidadãos globais.

Além do Take Care With Peanuts, há outros blocos com planos de aulas com atividades bem interessantes. Confiram:

• Snoopy and NASA: Celebrating the Space Station
• Snoopy in Space
• Peanuts and NASA
• Celebrate Spring with Peanuts
• Dream Big
• Never Give Up, Charlie Brown

Agradecimentos ao Teacher Roger Angeli pelo compartilhamento da página com os planos de aula.

LANGUAGE LEARNING

9 reasons why English rules

By TOM* in Language Learning

Last updated: Sept. 01, 2020

Go anywhere in the world and you’ll find someone who speaks English. But when and why did English become the de facto tongue for communities as far apart as the UK and French Polynesia? Let’s find out.

1. It’s the most commonly spoken language in the world

Depending a bit on how you count, in addition to the approximately 400 million native speakers, English is understood and/or spoken by around 1.6 billion people. With over a quarter of the world speaking the language, there’s always someone to practice with.

2. It’s the language of international business

With world business headquarters predominantly in the financial hubs of the UK and USA, English has long been the default language of trade. It might also be, in part, due to English-speakers not being the first to want to learn another language, and well, you have to find common ground with people from all over the world somehow, don’t you?

3. Most movies are in English

Hollywood is a powerhouse of global entertainment, so it’s natural that English would become the main language for movie-making. Sure, the movies are often dubbed over – but they’re really best enjoyed in the language in which they were intended.

4. It’s easy to learn

This is debatable depending on who you speak to, but it’s generally accepted that English isn’t the most taxing language to get to grips with. The vocabulary is simple to grasp and its relation to lots of other languages means speakers of those languages can see where concepts in English originated from. Which reminds me…

5. It’s related to loads of other languages

English has a long and fascinating history that spans wars, invasions and influences from around the globe. Cultures that have helped shape modern English include Romans, Vikings and the French. For this reason it’s a hybrid language comprised of Latin, Germanic and Romance elements.

6. You can say things in a hundred different ways

One of English’s best assets is its flexibility: you can often find many different ways to to explain the same thing thanks to its wide range of vocabulary. It’s said to have well over 750,000 words (depending a bit on how you count – some generous estimates put that number at 1 million) and is adding new ones every year (see point 8 below).

7. It sounds different around the world

An even more recent development in the evolution of English is the appearance of distinct dialects among countries where English is the native language. The UK, Australia and America all have different ways of speaking and spelling, influenced by the cultural and historical events that have shaped their development.

8. It’s really flexible

Non-native English speakers who learn it as a second language often comment on how many ways there are to say things. That’s because English doesn’t discriminate – you can use it however you like. Countries like Singapore have taken this concept to heart, inventing an entirely new type of English called ‘Singlish’ that has absorbed facets of other languages like Chinese and Malay.

9. It continues to change

Selfie. Bae. Smasual. All these words are new to the English language but have already become valued members of the lexicon. More than any other language, English continues to evolve and absorb new words that branch out – often untranslated – into other languages. English is definitely a language that knows where the party’s at.

My connection to English might be inherited but there’s plenty in can offer to everyone, no matter where they are in the world. Plus, everyone should know what ‘selfie’ means, right?

* TOM

Currently enjoying fresh alpine air in Switzerland, I hail from the sunny south of the UK. In my spare time, I enjoy eating, doing sports, buying clothes and eating more food (in that order).

Adapted from: https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/language/9-reasons-english-rules/. Accessed on March 29, 2021.

LANGUAGES IN THE WORLD

Society › Education & Science

The most spoken languages
 worldwide 2021

Published by Statista Research Department, Mar 3, 2021

In 2021, there were around 1.35 billion people worldwide who spoke English either natively or as a second language, slightly more than the 1.12 billion Mandarin Chinese speakers at the time of survey. Hindi and Spanish accounted for the third and fourth most widespread languages that year.

Languages in the United States

The United States does not have an official language, but the country uses English, specifically American English, for legislation, regulation and other official pronouncements. America is a land of immigrations and the languages spoken in the United States vary as a result of the multi-cultural population. The second most common language spoken in the United States is Spanish or Spanish Creole, which over 41,75 million people spoke at home in 2019. There were also 3.49 million Chinese speakers,1.76 million Tagalog speakers and 1.57 million Vietnamese speakers counted in the United States that year.

Different languages at home

The percentage of people in the United States speaking a language other than English at home varies from state to state. The state with the highest percentage of population speaking a language other than English is California. bout 44.5 percent of California’s population was speaking a language other than English at home in 2019.

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/266808/the-most-spoken-languages-worldwide/. Accessed on March 29, 2021.

ROLE PLAY ACTIVITIES

10 Fresh Role Play Ideas for

General English

Role plays are an excellent way of getting your students to practise their English. They simulate real life situations and allow them to act out what they would do in a real situation.

BUSY TEACHER

There are two ways a role play can go: scripted and non-scripted. With a scripted role play, the teacher might use an example in a text book. This is a good idea for a warm up exercise, by getting everyone to split up into pairs and allow them to speak to their partner, taking on different roles. Non-scripted ones are when students are given a role each and must use whatever knowledge they have in order to speak with that partner. Below is a list of ideas for a general English class. This can be adapted to suit a situation.

Try These Fresh Role Play Activities With Your Class

1. Telephone Conversation

Speaking on the phone is different to a face-to-face conversation because one relies solely on language to communicate. Get the students who are practicing to sit back to back in order for this to work properly. There is a whole range of ideas which one can use to act this out. Examples include: phoning to make a complaint, speaking to a friend or inquiring about a job position.

2. Going to the Shop

A great one for younger learners as it will teach them the basics of interacting with people. Children generally rely on their parents to buy things for them, therefore this will boost their overall general confidence in buying. It can be as simple or as complex as one wishes, depending on the situation. Key phrases are often important here, such as “I would like…” “How much are…” “Good morning…” and so forth.

3. Booking a Hotel

This will allow students to practise a specific type of language. Usually this will be formal language as it is a business conversation. This can also be done in the format of a telephone conversation, or it could be someone approaching a text. There is a wide range of opportunity here for the students to learn new forms of vocabulary.

4. Sharing Opinions

Choose a topic that everyone appears to be interested in. Get the students to pair up and give them a list of questions to follow. This will allow them to come up with their own phrases and use language in a much more practical way.

5. Job Interview

Work is usually a good topic to begin with when teaching adults. Many are learning English in order to improve their career prospects. As a result, a job interview role play is an excellent way to get the class learning that all important material. Again, this can be scripted or non-scripted. A good idea would be to have the interviewer have a list of set questions, and the students can take it from there.

6. Getting Everyone to Speak

A traditional method is to ask the class to pair off. Of course, one cannot monitor every student particularly if the class is quite large. Therefore, it is important to make sure everyone is speaking and getting the most out of the language they know. If one has time, have each individual group come up to the top of the class and speak in front of everyone else. This will allow people to use their language more creatively.

7. Argument Between Neighbours

Again, this is a new opportunity for learning different types of vocabulary. This could be between two neighbours who are having an argument. Perhaps one plays music too loudly in the middle of the night and is disturbing the rest of the apartment block. This can be as absurd or ridiculous as the students’ want, as long as they are speaking and using the language correctly. Some of the situations thought up can be quite amusing. See some suggested situations here: “Neighbour Problems Role Play”.

8. Body Language

Body language is just as important as spoken language, so in their role plays try and let the students get into the role. Of course, one does not have to be an expert at acting but it is important for them to get a feel of the flow of the conversation. Using body language effectively will allow them to become a lot more in tune with the language they are using.

9. Debate

Debates are a brilliant way of encouraging language use. This is because they can become somewhat heated, and many new words can come up. It is important to choose a topic which might not be too controversial to some students. Remember to be sensitive to their age group and the general attitude of the particular country. Divide the class into two sides and give them each a side of an argument to defend.

10. Have Fun

When it comes to role plays, it is all about the creative use of language. The student must put what they know to the test. This doesn’t mean they have to list off a boring dialogue. Allow them to be as creative as they can. Put them into challenging situations, and this will allow them to think of new ways of saying things.

Role plays can work as a great ice breaker for the beginning of the class

Always remember to be sensitive to any particular issues at the time, however, and be wary of the students’ age. Usually, the likes of filing a complaint will not really be of interest to children. Once the students are having fun and speaking English, there are no limits to their own learning!

Related categories: Role Playing Games

Adapted from: https://busyteacher.org/7371-10-roleplay-ideas-for-general-english.html. Accessed on March 29, 2021.

TIPS FOR ENGLISH CLASSES

9 Ways To Bring Real Life

Into The Classroom

BUSY TEACHER

Claudia Pesce

What do we usually do when we have to teach fruits and vegetables in English? We use flashcards and illustrations, right? But what if we were to bring a basket full of fruits and not only have students name them, but also take part in a surprise indoor picnic? I can assure you students will be both surprised and thrilled, and even though they may not be in the mood for a fruit salad, one thing is certain: this is one lesson they’ll never forget.

This is what the use of realia* in the classroom is all about: the use of real life objects that students can touch, feel, and even smell to effectively teach ESL components.

Here are some great ways to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by the use of realia in the classroom:

1. 5 o’clock tea

This is by far the best way to teach table manners, requests, or expressions related to ordering or serving tea, coffee, or any meal in a home setting. For the following dialogue:

- Would you like some tea?
- No, thank you.
- What would you like?
- I’d like some coffee, please.
- With milk and sugar?
- Just black coffee.

Simply bring a children’s tea set (it's a lot easier to bring to class) complete with tea cups, saucers, spoons, teapot and/or coffee pot, sugar bowl, creamer, etc... and have students practice offering and serving each other coffee or tea. You may also choose to add cakes, pies, cookies, or anything that will make your 5 o’clock tea truly unforgettable. You can make it as simple or as complete as you wish, or as time allows.

2. Eating out

Design and print out a simple menu with the food you'd like to teach including starters, main courses, and desserts. In small groups, have one student play the role of waiter and take orders, while the other students order their meals. Then have students switch roles. You may also include as many props as you’d like, like a full table setting to teach tableware vocabulary. Students may ask the waiter for a missing item like a spoon, fork, or napkin.

3. Location, location, location!

To teach prepositions of place take common classroom objects like pens, pencils, books, etc…and place them on or under desks, and around the classroom; then have students simply tell you where each item is, or take turns asking each other where their own personal items are. This also works great for teaching “this”, “that”, “these”, and “those”, as the perspective of having items near and far from you clearly illustrates the differences between the demonstrative pronouns.

4. Asking for directions

Get some real city maps from the local tourist office and give one to each pair of students. Have them take turns asking and giving directions to popular city sights.

5. Tell me about your family

Real family photos are great for not only learning about relationships but also physical descriptions. Have students bring one family photo each and describe family members. Students may also take turns asking classmates questions.

6. Let’s have a fashion show

Children love to play dress up, and what a better way for them to learn items of clothing and colors than put them on and strut around the classroom to show off their unique style? Adult learners can also model the clothing they’re wearing.

7. Celebrate the holidays

Learning English is not only about learning to speak in a foreign language. Students should learn about cultural elements as well. Special holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas offer unique learning opportunities. To teach students about Halloween, plan a celebration complete with pumpkin carving, costume contest, and typical games like bobbing for apples. Give your students the chance to experience the holidays and not just read about them.

8. The Job Interview

Do you have students who will be applying for jobs in English? Try to get your hands on some real job applications and have students practice filling them out in class. You may also conduct job interviews using real life interview questions. This type of practice will not only teach them the vocabulary they should know, it will give students the boost of confidence they need.

9. What’s the weather like today?

It’s as easy as starting each class by having students comment on what it’s like outside. You can get as basic or as complex as you like, from simply saying it's “raining”, to it's “drizzling”, “pouring” or even “raining cats and dogs”!

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You will have probably realized by now that including realia in the classroom involves a great deal of preparation in some cases. Is it really worth you time? The answer is, yes. Absolutely! And your student’s faces will be living proof.

Here are the reasons realia should be included in the classroom:

• Kinesthetic learning is the type of learning that students will most effectively acquire, mostly because they will have hands-on experience.
• The use of realia brings a welcome change in the class, a break from typical class activities like reading and writing.
• The unexpectedness of having to suddenly interact with real objects will keep students on their toes; it will create excitement, and they’ll have fun.
• Students have the chance to practice real life situations like using maps and asking for directions in a foreign language, but with the guidance of someone who speaks fluently and will help them get it right. Once they hit the street, they will feel more confident in speaking the language with the locals.
• Students will clearly understand the reason they’re learning a particular ESL component. Inste ad of wondering when and where they might have use for a particular language element, they’ll know the reason.

When it comes to using realia in the classroom the sky’s the limit! The best part is that your students will learn, have fun, but you’ll also enjoy your classes all the more.

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*realia (plural noun)

re·​a·​lia | \ rē-ˈa-lē-ə , -ˈā- \

Definition: objects or activities used to relate classroom teaching to the real life especially of peoples studied

Did You Know?

Realia, was first used in the late 19th century, and is still mostly used in the classroom by teachers, especially foreign language teachers. It is also used in library cataloguing (in reference to such bizarre things as an author's hair and teeth donated posthumously) and occasionally finds its way into other contexts as well. You might, for example, hear of someone putting "realia"-objects that represent present-day life-in a time capsule. "Realia" is also sometimes used philosophically to distinguish real things from the theories about them-a meaning that dates to the early 19th century. "Realia" is one of those plural formations without a corresponding singular form. Like "memorabilia" ("memorable things" or "mementos"), "juvenilia" ("works produced in an artist's or author's youth"), and "marginalia" ("marginal notes or embellishments"), it incorporates the Latin plural ending "-ia."

(Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realia. Accessed on March 26, 2021.)

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Adapted from: https://busyteacher.org/2842-realia-esl-classroom.html. Accessed on March 26, 2021.

IMPROVING SPOKEN ENGLISH

10 TOP TIPS FOR IMPROVING

YOUR SPOKEN ENGLISH

WIL - ENGLISH LIVE

Practising speaking is one of the most fun and rewarding parts of learning English. Once you can speak even a little English, there are loads of ways to improve your skills quickly while having tons of fun. Here are ten top tips for improving your spoken English and having a great time while you do it!

1. Speak, speak, speak!

Be confident and speak as often as possible to as many people as you possibly can! Do not be shy to make mistakes! The more you practice the better and more confident you will become in your pronunciation and vocabulary. Remember, speaking is a skill like learning a musical instrument or new sport – the only way you can get good is to actually do it!

2. Use technology

A smartphone can be a powerful tool for learning languages. Use it to record yourself speaking then listen back to see how your English sounds to other people. Make the most of all your favourite productivity apps to organise your practice time and make a note of all the new words you learn.

3. Listen

Listen to news bulletins and songs in English to listen to the pronunciation of words. You can also learn new words and expressions this way. The more you listen, the more you learn! Try copying what you hear to practise your pronunciation and learn which words in a sentence are stressed.

4. Read out loud

Read the newspaper or a magazine out to yourself. You could even find a script for your favourite TV show and act it out! This is a great way to practise pronunciation because you only need to concentrate on making sure you English sounds great and don’t need to worry about sentence structure or grammar.

5. Learn a new word every day

Choose a word you would like to work on and use practice it in different sentences. Use the word until you have learnt it and keep using it regularly.

6. Watch films

Watch movies in English and pay attention to new vocabulary and pronunciation. Imitate the actors and have fun with it.

7. Make friends

Make friends with English speakers or others learning to speak English and compare notes. Talk about things that you have learnt and exchange ideas.

8. Do interesting activities in English

Take a cooking course in English or join a book club! Anything you enjoy doing, make sure you do it and communicate it in English. Using English to talk about things you enjoy will make practising a positive experience.

9. Have a debate

Debate all the topics that interest you with friends in English. Try to use as much vocabulary as you can to get your point across and listen to the other arguments carefully so you can argue against them effectively.

10. Use a dictionary

Online dictionaries often have audio examples so you can check your pronunciation and there are lots of great dictionary apps that you can take everywhere with you on your smartphone. Make sure not to become too reliant on these tools, though. Have a go at saying the words first then check afterwards to see if you were right!

So, with all these practice tips to choose from, which one are you going to try first?

Adapted from: https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/language-lab/10-top-tips-improving-spoken-english/. Accessed on March 23, 2021.

LEARNING ENGLISH

19 MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

TO KEEP YOU LEARNING ENGLISH

WIL * - ENGLISH LIVE

When you’re down on motivation, it’s a great idea to get some advice from an expert. We don’t always have experts on hand, though. If that’s the case and you need some advice to help you get motivated to learn English, turn to some of the greatest thinkers of the past with these 19 quotes to help you get motivated to learn English.

1. The best way to predict the future is to create it. (Abraham Lincoln)

If you want to be a fluent speaker of English in the future, you need to make it happen.

2. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. (C.S.Lewis)

Many people say it’s easier to learn a language when you are young but there are advantages to learning a language when you are older.

3. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. (Gandhi)

Enjoy living in the moment but remember that learning English will prepare you for the future.

4. Learning is not a spectator sport. (D. Blocher)

If you want to master English, get involved and practise as much as possible.

5. There is no substitute for hard work. (Thomas Edison)

Learning any language is hard work so prepare well, put in the hours and you will achieve your goals.

6. Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Lao Tzu)

Starting early with your learning will mean that you have time to deal with things in small steps. Even a large goal is more approachable if you break it down into smaller ones and just get started.

7. Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. (Margaret Fuller)

Reading is not just important for acquiring knowledge, it will help you build your vocabulary and range in English, too.

8. Learning is like rowing upstream, not to advance is to drop back. (Chinese Proverb)

In a world where everyone else is learning, if you don’t take your learning seriously you will fall behind.

9. The secret of getting ahead is getting started. (Mark Twain)

Like the Lao Tzu quote earlier, this one is a great way to help you stop procrastinating. Anything you can do right away will help you get ahead with your goal of leaning a language.

10. If you can dream it, you can do it. (Walt Disney)

Walt Disney was well known as a man who made dreams come true, and you can, too. It just takes plenty of hard work.

11. It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. (Confucius)

Learning a skill such as a new language can take a long time. If you feel like your progress is slow, bear in mind these wise words from Confucius. The important thing is to keep going and you will get there in the end.

12. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. (Benjamin Franklin)

Earlier in the year, we shared some tips on how to plan your studies for the coming year. Planning is important when you are learning a language so don’t be afraid to put some time into it.

13. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. (Samuel Beckett)

Making mistakes is a natural part of the language learning process. The key is to learn from these mistakes. Don’t be afraid to try out new things in English but always remember to reflect on them and decide what was successful and what you need to keep working on.

14. Language is “the infinite use of finite means.” (Wilhelm von Humboldt)

Remember, it is possible to communicate big ideas with relatively limited language. Don’t feel like you need perfect English before you can go out and have interesting conversations with other people.

15. Is it not enjoyable to learn and practise what you learn? (Confucius)

Using your English skills is fun. Make time just to enjoy speaking English.

16. Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. (Joseph Addison)

More wise words on reading here. Reading will also help you improve your English writing by introducing you to new, interesting sentence structures.

17. To have another language is to possess a second soul. (Charlemagne)

Learning a new language gives you the chance to be a different person if you want to. Make the most of that chance.

18. Language is wine upon the lips. (Virginia Woolf)

When you are learning a language, remember to slow down and enjoy the process. The language itself is often as enjoyable as the end goal.

19. Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. (Benjamin Franklin)

Very sensible advice. Now it’s time for you to get involved.

Which of the quotes was your favourite? Share it on with your friends and inspire them to improve their English, too!

* Wil is a writer, teacher, learning technologist and keen language learner. He’s taught English in classrooms and online for nearly 10 years, trained teachers in using classroom and web technology, and written e-learning materials for several major websites. He speaks four languages and is currently looking for another one to start learning.

Adapted from: https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/english-in-the-real-world/19-motivational-quotes-keep-learning-english/. Accessed on March 22, 2021.