ESL Blogs

Studying Grammar vs Using Grammar. (ESL)

By Dayne Collins.

I think I could spend my whole life studying the patterns and structure of a language without learning how to speak, write, or read it. I would probably know every little detail of the language, but never be able to use my knowledge and understanding in a practical way. Before I go any further, I would like to clarify that English grammar is important. In this post I simply want to share my views on learning about grammar, and learning ho

TEACHING AND TECHNOLOGY
By Halina Ostankowicz- Bazan

What does teaching with technology mean to me?
To me, teaching with technology involves the development of my approaches that includes four major modules: the course content, the coach, the students and the technology implements.
After over thirty years of teaching, I felt bored with my traditional technics and wanted to find some inspiration, as well as improvement.
My motivation, to search for the updated coaching methods, was an eagerness to ge

Hi Everyone

hope all are doing well.

This is my forth blog and I came up with not a new topic but useful one. I always had a wish that, I must write something on the fear of speaking English. Although most of us faced difficulties in the beginning but as soon as we started learning and using it in our day to day life we get fluency.

The fear of speaking is not the new concept its a common problem that every individual who speaks other languages faced but as soon he starts learning and gaining knowl

Once upon a time, there lived a monkey and a chicken. They stayed together in which chicken did the house hold chores and monkey went for work. The chicken always made fried eggs for monkey, then once monkey was curious to know from where the eggs came from.

So once the monkey pretended to go for work and he hid and watched the chicken. The chicken climbed on the stove and lay eggs on the frying pan. Then the monkey thought that the chicken fried his stool and the next day he pretended that he wa

Here are five other expressions for you to guess.

1. to hold over.

They are going to hold that movie over for another week and we will be able to see it next Friday.

2. to set forth.

The speaker set forth his arguments in a convincing manner.

The details of the agreement are set forth in the contract.

3. to take/ be taken in.

He certainly took us in with his stories about Mexico.

First, I was taken in by his appearance, but later on I realized what kind of person he was.

4. to make one tick.

If I knew wha

If you really want to get a job, you need to get ready for it, so that you don't get a shock when seeing other job contestants are far better than you. It's so important that your boss  get the impression you are aware and skillful at the activity you proposed to apply for. Remember that at work, you also must get permission to get into the boss' office, avoid getting drunk, and make sure your clothes don't get wet . Uniforms are the visual identity of a company. Otherwise, he  will get angry ab

I'm a big fan of chocolate cake. You know what? Scratch that. Just chocolate. Then again, anything that can satisfy my sweet tooth and stop it from nagging me is fine. Let's face it folks: These ridiculously delicious snacks contain sugar (gasp), which is not good for us. :(

So let's find another way to indulge our sweet tooth. Sugary idioms! Tada! I know, we can't eat them. So, why even bother? C'mon! Let's give it a try.

( as ) easy as pie: very easy.

( as ) nice (or sweet ) as pie: extremely ple

Good Evening

I already got the result. I got fifth out of sixth levels. It is high-intermediate level. The class will be starting after spring break. Are you ready for spring break? I am ready and I am looking forward to being home with my cats.

English nowadays is almost the language that a lot of kids is using when communicating to one another. It as if it is becoming very own common language. The whole is very diverse with different races and cultures. And each of this diverse groups are equipped with different languages and dialects. But what's cool is that we can actually communicate with everyone despite the differences and barrier gap we all have. All because we have the language, ENGLISH. One might not be that good at speaking,

"A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity."

Hi, dear friends! And you, enemies, be blessed too! You know, many years ago I was presented with a nice book ’14,000 things to be happy about. The Happy Book by Barbara Ann Kipfer’. It was published in 1990 by Workman Publishing New York. “This book represents 20 years of recording all the little things that make me happy. … I flip through this collection to cheer myself up; often use it to get ideas about what to cook for dinner or something fun to do with my son on the weekend”, says the auth

The picture below is a bulleted entry from a list titled "Useful facts" in a document that I am writing. I posted it because I was worried that it wasn't written in proper English.

In one of my previous blog entries; I mentioned some flowery idiomatic expressions. It seems like I'm not done with idioms yet. How about another category? Fruits. Mmm, yummy, huh? All righty, then. Let's get to work. It'll be fun and fruity!    

apples and oranges: (of two people or things) fundamentally different  

Comparing the average salary of a worker and a manager is like trying to compare apples and oranges.

not give (or care ) a fig: not have the slightest concern about    

Carl didn't give

Helloo,

I had English placement test today. There were two parts of the test: first was written test, and another was oral test. I haven't known the result of oral test yet, but the lady told me that I did well in written test. I was absolutely happy after I had heard what she said.

I don't really understand why I am always nervous about speaking English. There are bunches of resources on Internet to advise us to deal with speaking English such as taking a deep breath, or planing a head and so on.

I guess 2016 really brings out another side of me.. In my last blog, Running Towards Happiness, I said, maybe I'm facing a mid life crisis of which I'm changing my lifestyle. Hmm... come to think of it, I think I'm having a mid life crisis at the cross road of my life. Not only nowadays I love running and hiking, that's already a total alien experience for me, but I started a new hobby, 'colouring for adults'. 

Some people say it's a form of therapy, a stress release mechanism, but for me, it's j

How to speak English clearly and fluently.
(For upper intermediate and advanced ESL learners)
By Dayne Collins
 
 
If you are learning English as your second language, and you are now at an advanced level, then you are likely to have a large vocabulary, as well as an understanding of the language equal to, if not better than many native speakers. However it is a safe bet, that like most learners of english, you probably find that speaking is the hardest part.

English speech has a complicated rhyth

Hi This is the first time I write a blog, I have never done this before so I 'm sorry if my blog isn't interesting or something :D because this is my very first time. I'm not a blogger not a good writter either, I'm just sharing what I thoughts in my mind :) OK here we go :)

Do you have a penpal from another country? yes an old fashioned penpal through letter? I do have penpals. I and my penpals like to send letter through post office, and sometimes we exchange small gift as well such as keychain