sábado, 24 de marzo de 2012

Another opportunity to practise and more...

Después de leer una muy buena introducción, pueden tratar de poner en práctica las sugerencias para aprender inglés cuando no se tiene mucho tiempo.

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Yes I know when you are reading this it could be quite late because you are so busy with your job and family. Or is it your study? Whatever your situation, if you can improve your English, you will have more time for the things you like doing most. Why? Because when you speak good English you can work more effectively, meet more intelligent people and establish better business contacts. The big question still is how

'How can I improve my English when I don't have much time'?
First of all, keep in mind that you are not the only person who has this problem. There are millions of people whose schedules might be even busier than yours. Second, you need to understand that it's not important how much time you have. What really counts is how you use your time. This fact is so crucial that I want to repeat for you: The important thing is how you use your time. We all live on the same planet and a day still has 24 hours regardless of what country you live in and what job you do or how many kids you need to care for. Time management starts in your head. Decide what you want to do and you will find the time to do it.

But let's get back to our question:

How can I improve my English speaking skills?

The answer: Get in touch with native English speakers. Listen to them. Ask them questions. Answer their questions. Learn from them and help them learn from you. "OK", I can hear you say "but how do I do that when I live in China, Russia, India or any other country where there no native speakers in my neighbourhood?" Don't worry. You don't have to move to the US or the UK. You can make friends with native speakers no matter where you live. Use the Internet. Use our forum. All you need to do is listen to the following voice messages and record your own. The first message is from Inga, an English teacher who lives and works in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. In her recording Inga says that she doesn't have much contact with native speakers in Minsk. That's why she uses our forum to talk to people like Alan Townend from London and Tom Kane from the United States. Here is what Inga has to say: How to speak English on the forum?

Useful links:


Are you in facebook?

Do you know the famous Facebook? Read this interesting article about it and make your own reflections.

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Facebook and Bebo risk 'infantilising' the human mind

Greenfield warns
Social networking sites, such as Facebook, are putting attention span in jeopardy, says Baroness Greenfield. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Social network sites risk infantilising the mid-21st century mind, leaving it characterised by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathise and a shaky sense of identity, according to a leading neuroscientist.
The startling warning from Lady Greenfield, professor of synaptic pharmacology at Lincoln college, Oxford, and director of the Royal Institution, has led members of the government to admit their work on internet regulation has not extended to broader issues, such as the psychological impact on children.
Greenfield believes ministers have not yet looked at the broad cultural and psychological effect of on-screen friendships via Facebook, Bebo and Twitter.
She told the House of Lords that children's experiences on social networking sites "are devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term significance. As a consequence, the mid-21st century mind might almost be infantilised, characterised by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathise and a shaky sense of identity".
Arguing that social network sites are putting attention span in jeopardy, she said: "If the young brain is exposed from the outset to a world of fast action and reaction, of instant new screen images flashing up with the press of a key, such rapid interchange might accustom the brain to operate over such timescales. Perhaps when in the real world such responses are not immediately forthcoming, we will see such behaviours and call them attention-deficit disorder.
"It might be helpful to investigate whether the near total submersion of our culture in screen technologies over the last decade might in some way be linked to the threefold increase over this period in prescriptions for methylphenidate, the drug prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder."
She also warned against "a much more marked preference for the here-and-now, where the immediacy of an experience trumps any regard for the consequences. After all, whenever you play a computer game, you can always just play it again; everything you do is reversible. The emphasis is on the thrill of the moment, the buzz of rescuing the princess in the game. No care is given for the princess herself, for the content or for any long-term significance, because there is none. This type of activity, a disregard for consequence, can be compared with the thrill of compulsive gambling or compulsive eating.
"The sheer compulsion of reliable and almost immediate reward is being linked to similar chemical systems in the brain that may also play a part in drug addiction. So we should not underestimate the 'pleasure' of interacting with a screen when we puzzle over why it seems so appealing to young people."
Greenfield also warned there was a risk of loss of empathy as children read novels less. "Unlike the game to rescue the princess, where the goal is to feel rewarded, the aim of reading a book is, after all, to find out more about the princess herself."
She said she found it strange we are "enthusiastically embracing" the possible erosion of our identity through social networking sites, since those that use such sites can lose a sense of where they themselves "finish and the outside world begins".
She claimed that sense of identity can be eroded by "fast-paced, instant screen reactions, perhaps the next generation will define themselves by the responses of others".
Social networking sites can provide a "constant reassurance – that you are listened to, recognised, and important". Greenfield continued. This was coupled with a distancing from the stress of face-to-face, real-life conversation, which were "far more perilous … occur in real time, with no opportunity to think up clever or witty responses" and "require a sensitivity to voice tone, body language and perhaps even to pheromones, those sneaky molecules that we release and which others smell subconsciously".
She said she feared "real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these sanitised and easier screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing, skinning and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages of meat on the supermarket shelf. Perhaps future generations will recoil with similar horror at the messiness, unpredictability and immediate personal involvement of a three-dimensional, real-time interaction."
The solutions, however, lay less in regulation as in education, culture and society.
Greenfield argued that the appeal of Facebook lay in the fact that "a child confined to the home every evening may find at the keyboard the kind of freedom of interaction and communication that earlier generations took for granted in the three-dimensional world of the street. But even given a choice, screen life can still be more appealing."
She quoted one user saying they had 900 friends, another saying the fact "that you can't see or hear other people makes it easier to reveal yourself in a way that you might not be comfortable with. You become less conscious of the individuals involved [including yourself], less inhibited, less embarrassed and less concerned about how you will be evaluated."
But Greenfield warned: "It is hard to see how living this way on a daily basis will not result in brains, or rather minds, different from those of previous generations. We know that the human brain is exquisitely sensitive to the outside world."

jueves, 22 de marzo de 2012

7 rules to remember when learning a second language

7 reglas para tener en cuenta
Read these rules and try to apply them.

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Imagine yourself in a coffee shop, talking with an American. You are relaxed and smiling because you are communicating easily. The words come out quickly. You are a strong and respected English speaker. Your friends are surprised because you are speaking English so well.

We want you to succeed! Please use the 7 Rules when you study English.

You can do it!
Remember The 7 Rules:
1. Learn Phrases
2. Don't Study Grammar
3. Focus On Listening
4. Learn Deeply (Repeat A Lot)
5. Use Point of View Stories
6. Use Only Real English Materials
7. Use Listen & Answer Stories

domingo, 18 de marzo de 2012

modelo de examen para alumnos libres

modelos de exámenes para alumnos libres
Modelos de examen escrito y examen oral. Para acceder al oral, deberán aprobar el escrito con nota 4 (cuatro) o más.

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.
WRITTEN EXAM:
1- Write an informal letter introducing yourself to a family living in another country,where you are going to stay for a month. Give all your personal information and describe general characteristics of Argentina and its people.( 80/90 words)
2- Invent a character (alive or dead) from the past or the present, and write his/her biography.(80/90 words)
3- Write about the most interesting/funny/sad/exciting/ situation you have ever lived. (80/ 90 words).
ORAL EXAM:
1- Dramatization of a dialogue between a hostel receptionist and a tourist, including all personal information questions.
2- Dramatization at a coffee shop between a tourist and a waiter/tress.
3- Conversation about a person´s biographical data.
4- Retelling of an anecdote or funny/dramatic/exciting situation you have lived.

Más sitios para el aprendizaje y la práctica de inglés

Visitando estos sitios con tiempo para dedicar a las explicaciones y  
  los ejercicios, podrán progresar en el aprendizaje del idioma de una
manera independiente.

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http://www.autoenglish.org/listenings.htm
real-english.com
http://www.englishtown.com/online/home.aspx?&etag=E17957



Para el estudio del inglés en linea, en
 forma gratuita.

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You might know the saying 'The best things in life are free'. So what
are your alternatives to paid English courses? Free materials, services
and resources of course! And where do you find them?
You probably already know the answer: at http://www.english-test.net/
Let me give you some details on what exactly you can expect from our site for free:
the email English course you have been receiving for more than a year
A proofreading and editing service (you can get an unlimited number of essays
and texts proofread, edited and amended)feedback and advice on how to improve
your pronunciation and accent.
You can ask an unlimited number of grammar and vocabulary questions
thousands of interactive grammar and vocabulary tests and quizzes
hundreds of TOEIC and TOEFL listening comprehension exercises and  
questions, several complete TOEIC and TOEFL simulation tests with your
individual scores.
Now you might be thinking 'where is the catch' or 'how is it possible to get all
these things for free'? Well, our site pretty much operates like Google: You can get
a great variety of high quality services and products that are sponsored by a large
number of companies.
English-test.net too, is sponsored by companies that advertise on our site so we can
offer you such a variety of free services.
 It is our goal to provide free English language resources to anyone from any country.
How important are free English learning materials to you? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of having access to free resources? We have started a
forum poll on this question and you can read your fellow learners' thoughts and opinions
here: How important are free learning materials to you?

Here you will find a list of all the links contained in this text:
1).
 
About.com

Try this site About.com and you will find a new world of opportunities to test your English and practise in many different amusing ways. You can also watch videos, listen to dialogues and teachers talking to you. Don´t miss it!

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Here´s an example of what you can find:
Kenneth Beare

English as 2nd Language

By Kenneth Beare About.com Guide since 1997

Writing Style

Friday March 11, 2011
This series of four lessons is designed to help students become familiar with writing an essay in English. The first lesson is designed to give students an overview of basic essay writing style. The final three lessons focus on developing skills that are used when analyzing texts as the basis of their essays.
Basic Essay Writing Style
Developing a Character Analysis
Using Themes to Relate to a Story
Getting Ideas Organized
Sponsored Links
Business English OnlineMP3 lessons and online practice. Take a free trial & save 25%!www.BusinessEnglishPod.com
Free TOEFL Practice TestsListening, reading, speaking, and writing. Learn your score now.www.testden.com
Learn English LanguageJoin us at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Register Now!www.mcgill.ca/language

Practicing Conversations in English on Your Mobile Phone

Wednesday March 9, 2012
  One of the most important needs of many English learners is the opportunity to practice conversational English. Obviously, the best way to do this is to practice with a friend, teacher or other English speaker. Unfortunately, that's not always possible. I recently came across ESLai that is working on developing interactive chats focused on helping English learners. It looks very promising, and I hope they can create many new conversational opportunities soon. For right now, they have some beginner practice meant to be done on mobile phones! You can also practice on the internet as well.
Pizza Restaurant
Planning a Picnic
If you would like to improve your conversation skills in English, here are some more resources that can help:
Making Small Talk
Small Talk Lesson Plan
Wednesday March 9, 2012

 

 
 
 
 

A qué nos referimos cuando hablamos de Reino Unido, Gran Bretaña e Inglaterra?

To know exactly the meanings of these words: United Kingdom, Great Britain, England.

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What is the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England?


Map of Great Britain
Wha's the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England? Don't worry if you don't know, lots of people get confused by the three names. Here we take a look at the differences between them.

The United Kingdom

UK Map
The United Kingdom is in itself a country that is made up of England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland. It's official name is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". It has one government based in London and has one currency: the pound stirling (£). The UK is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. The capital city of the UK is London.

Great Britain

Great Britain is an island which is made up of three counties: England, Scotland and Wales. Great Britain is the political term describing the political union of the kingdoms of England, Wales and Scotland made on 1 May, 1707. Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain.

England

England is one of the four countries that make up the UK and one of the three that makes up Great Britain. England is the largest country in the UK with a population of 51 million. London is the capital of England.

Scotland

Scotland is in Great Britain. It shares a border with England, but it is not in England. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. Scotland has a population of over 5 million. It was an independent country until it joined with England and Wales to form the UK in 1707. Although English is the language of Scotland there is also another official language called Scottish Gaelic which is much older than English. It was the original language of the area before English. Today only 58,000 people speak it. Although politically, Scotland is part of the UK it does have some independent political power.

Wales

Wales is in the west of Great Britain and is part of the UK. It has a population of 3 million. The capital city of Wales is Cardiff . People in Wales speak English and many people also speak Welsh which is very different and older than English. Street signs in Wales are written in both languages. Wales has been politically linked with England since 1542. Wales was an independent country until it was defeated by the English army. Wales has some independence in making it's own laws, but it is still very much part of the UK political system.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but it is not in Great Britain. Northern Ireland can be found in Ireland (which is the island to the west of Great Britain). The capital of NI is Belfast and it has a population of under 2 million. It became a part of the UK in 1921. Ireland is divided in two parts; NI is part of the UK while the Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country with its own laws, government and currency (€). Although English is the most common language, there are also Irish speakers in NI.
Do you understand? Try the questions below!
Link: British English Slang
  • The UK is an island.

  • 4 countries make up the UK.

  • 3 countries make up Great Britain.

  • Northern Ireland is in Great Britain.

  • Scotland is in England.

  • The capital of Wales is London.

  • The Republic of Ireland is NOT part of the UK.