Back with dictionaries again! Enrich your vocabulary fast and easy

Several posts have already been published in this blog about dictionaries ("There is life outside word reference!"; "Using monolingual and collocations dictionaries"). Today we're going to focus on yet a different type of dictionaries: dictionaries of synonyms and antonyms. Have you ever used them??

To start with, a synonym is a word that has a similar or the same meaning as another one in the language, whereas an antonym is a word that has an opposite meaning. I include some examples below:

Examples of synonyms:

Some more advanced examples include:

Beautiful: Attractive, Pretty, Lovely, Stunning
Fair: Just, Objective, Impartial, Unbiased
Funny: Humorous, Comical, Hilarious, Hysterical
Happy: Content, Joyful, Mirthful, Upbeat
Hardworking: Diligent, Determined, Industrious, Enterprising
Honest: Honorable, Fair, Sincere, Trustworthy
Intelligent: Smart, Bright, Brilliant, Sharp
Introverted: Shy, Bashful, Quiet, Withdrawn
Kind:Thoughtful, Considerate, Amiable, Gracious
Outgoing: Friendly, Sociable, Warm, Extroverted 

Examples of antonyms

Examples of antonyms

Working on our synonyms and antonyms will incredibly help us to enrich our vocabulary. (I also talked about this in an earlier post: "learn how to be more descriptive!"). But how can you do that? Well, there are many ways, from writing lists in your notebook, to designing flashcards or categorizing your vocabulary. But today we're only going to focus on one: dictionaries of synonyms and antonyms.

There are two main dictionaries of this sort online:

• Your Dictionary

• Thesaurus

I personally prefer the second one, and here I'm going to show you an example of how it works. Extremely useful, and dead easy, you'll see!!

The homepage looks like this: (make sure it says "synonyms" on the left)

As an example I have introduced the word "sad". To start with, something very useful is that the words are coloured according to their relevance/frequency, as you can see below:

More than that, you can also activate the options "common" or "informal" on the right, so that the corresponding words are highlighted. This is extremely important, since when you learn a new word, you should also know if you should use it in formal or informal contexts. These differences of register are essential for advanced students.

If you scroll down a bit more, we find the antonyms. Again, they're highlighted according to their relevance and you can activate the options "common" and "informal".

Awesome, huh? :)

Well, now you just have to start using it!

Read more...

New Year Resolutions for your English learning - some ideas!

Hello everyone! And Happy New Year!

We're back after the Christmas break with renewed energy from these cosy and warm days with the family. I hope you come back as energetic and lively! :)

The first days of the New Year are always full of optimism, ambitions, new projects, resolutions, etc. Along with that philosophy, I wanted to post something uplifting and that gives you ideas to orientate your English studying in 2015.

Funny enough, I've just bumped into a very interesting blog post that I share with you below. It is written by an English student who passed the Advanced level without attending lessons. It is a clear example of perseverance, willingness to learn and organizational skills.

She also gives plenty of ideas, resources and tips to study autonomously at home. And, last but not least, I'm sure you'll feel identified with her because of the language she uses and also because she encountered the same obstacles and problems as many of you do.

Enjoy!

Cómo aprobé el nivel avanzado de la EOI

Read more...

A useful tip to convert between miles and kilometres!

Hi there! 

Today I'm going to give you a very useful tip to convert between kilometres and miles! It is specially useful for those who like languages but also have a certain mind for Maths! But even if you don't like Maths, read through the end and see how easy it is!

Have you ever heard of the Fibonacci Sequence? I'm sure you have! For those who don't know, the sequence is as follows:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144...

How does it work? Well, each number results from adding up the two neighbouring numbers:

Now, one interesting aspect of these numbers is that their ratios (divisiones) all approach being what is called the golden ratio: 1,618. So, for example,

• 3 divided by 2 is 1,5;

• 5 divided by 3 is 1,666;

• 8 divided by 5 is 1,6;

• 13 divided by 8 is 1,625;

• 21 divided by 13 is 1,615, etc.

And... what does this have to do with kilometres and miles? Well, curiously enough, the ratio of km to miles is 1,609 to 1. Since 1,609 is so close to the golden ratio, you can use the Fibonacci numbers to convert between kilometres and miles!!

• 5 km is quite close to 3 miles

• 8 km is almost exactly 5 miles

• 13 km is 8 miles

• 21 km is 13 miles, etc.!

Now you won't have any problem with distances when you travel to the United Kingdom! :)

Read more...

Speechyard.com: learn English from film extracts

Hi again!

Today I'm going to show you a fantastic website to learn English with film extracts: www.speechyard.com. It is brand new and it has tremendous functionalities! Without a doubt, one of the best websites for English learning I've seen in a long time!

You can select extracts from different films, and check the new vocabulary instantly from the subtitles. You can also add the new words to your own library / glossary!

Let me show you better!

1. Enter the website

2. Choose a video from the "Content" page:

2. Click on a word or a group of words to translate it/them:

3. Click on "+" to add a word to your library (= glossary):

4. Learn new words and expression on the "Learning" page:

5. You can practise with other users at the "Community" page:

Check all this on this video tutorial:

I'm sure you'll love it!!

Read more...

There is no failure, only feedback!

In all types of learning, and language learning is no difference, our attitude towards mistakes is crucial. There are people for whom a mistake is a push forward (un empujón hacia delante), but for others their whole world seem to crumble (venirse abajo)...!

Truth is that mistakes simply show that we are learning, that we are advancing, that we are in the middle of a process that will eventually lead to our mastery of the language. This is the attitude that we must have, and perceive mistakes as a step further in our learning, and one that will give us the push to keep going.

There is a story about Thomas Edison that goes something like this: When someone commented to Edison that he had failed 1,999 times before he eventually managed to invent the light bulb, he replied: 'Nonsense, it was a 2,000 step process!'

If you look around, you'll see hundreds of examples of people who failed before achieving their goal. That failure was simply part of their learning, and the one that made them strong enough to keep going.

Below you have a few examples of such failures:

So... what is your attitude going to be the next time you make a mistake?? :))

Read more...

Films in original version at www.cuevana2.tv

Hello there!

These days we've been talking about films and you've asked me for websites to watch films (or series) in original version. There are lots and lots of sites you can visit, but today I'm going to recommend www.cuevana2.tv.

There you have all the films and tv series you can think of in original version. The website is very updated: sometimes you can even watch films that haven't been released in Spain!

Most of the films are original version with Spanish subtitles, but you can navigate through the different options for each film/episode if you want other languages or subtitles.

Now, is it better to watch the film with or without subtitles? And should the subtitles be in English or Spanish? Well, first of all, forget the idea that watching films with subtitles is "bad", because it is not. Quite on the contrary, it is very good practice because you associate spelling and pronunciation which, as you know, does not always coincide in English. Therefore, the ideal thing would be to watch films in English with English subtitles until your level is high enough to eliminate subtitles completely.

Finally, very important: choose something that you like. This way, you will focus on what is happening and forget that the film/episode is in English! This favours unconscious learning, which is the one that lasts longer in our memories.

So... what film are you going to watch this weekend? :)

Read more...

Pronunciation dictionary for proper names - thanks to Roberto Romera

Hi everyone,

Today I leave you with this extremely useful website for pronunciation: www.forvo.com.

As you know, you can check the pronunciation of a word in a normal dictionary, but many of them aren't included, for example proper names. Well, in this website you can check the pronunciation any word.

Here I include an example: "Renée Zelweger"

I'm sure you will use this website a lot, for example in your presentations, where you include names that don't appear in the dictionary.

Thanks for sharing, Roberto!

Read more...

Problems with commas? Not me!

Hi there!

Today I'm going to post a video that you're absolutely going to love!! And I'm sure it will help you a lot with your commas!

I'll summarize it for you and then you can watch it at the end of the entry :)

So... there are three characters!

The tiny conjunctions are small, and they connect clauses, words and phrases. Because they are so small, they often need the help of a comma, but not always. They are easy to remember with the word FANBOYS!

The mighty subordinants are the heavy-weight champions of sentences! They connect two unequal things, dependent and independent clauses:

Commonly used subordinants are:

They are very strong, so if the sentences are equally distributed on both arms, they don't need help. In other words, if the subordinate is in the middle of the sentence, commas are not needed.

Bartheleme loves to sing even though he never sings in front of others.

However, if the subordinate is at the beginning, we need a comma to help!

Even though Bartheleme loves to sing, he never sing in front of others

Tiny conjunctions are not so strong, so they can ask for help when they connect sentences:

However, the comma is not needed when they connect two phrases (molecular biology or interpretive dance):

Watch the video now (activate the subtitles if you need to) and learn the whole story!

If you want to know more about commas, don't miss these previous entries:

• 8 rules for using commas

• When should you not use a comma: correcting a run-on sentence

Read more...

There is life outside wordreference!

This is not the first time I've written about dictionaries other than bilingual ones (using monolingual and collocations dictionaries). Today I'm going to focus specifically on collocations dictionaries, since they have an enormous potential, especially in levels B2 and C1.

A collocations dictionary is a dictionary that tells you which words work together (collocate). For example, do we say aware of something or aware about something?

Do you spend money on or in something?

Which verbs can I use with favour?

More than that, it can help us to improve our writing by providing us with plenty of synonyms. How can I say that something has a lot of potential?

Rather than buying one, I recommend you to use the Oxford Collocations Dictionary Online, available at www.ozdic.com. Enter the website and practise a little bit. Can you improve the following sentences?

Practise with a collocations dictionary.pdf by AnaBueno_LearnEnglish

Read more...

A tip to study phrasal verbs

Hi everyone,

On Tuesday we worked with phrasal verbs. You always complain that they are very difficult to memorize and to remember, and... it's true...! However, there are some tips that can help you to learn them better and more efficiently!

Below I post a mind-map that can improve your learning of phrasal verbs, especially if you have visual/photographic memory. Also, you can revise a lot of phrasal verbs with just one look!

I know these phrasal verbs are rather easy, but what I want you to see is a possible organisation for the new phrasal verbs you learn.

Remember that the way you organise your vocabulary is as important as the time you spend studying it!

Read more...

Let's try mini sagas!

You'll probably think that writing compositions is one of the most boring parts of language learning... Sitting down in front of a blank paper not knowing what to write about or how best to do it... Even in our own language it is difficult to be a good writer!

But why don't we change the rules of the game?

Writing can also be an exciting, entertaining and funny activity! And it's even better if you do it in groups! In a previous entry (how to improve writing skills) I gave you a few ideas to give writing a different twist, and also to train your brain in generating ideas.

Today I give you another possibility... MINI SAGAS!

A mini saga is a short story consisting of exactly 50 words, not including the title. It must tell a story and have a beginning, middle and end (normally with a twist!). Here you have three examples!

(Taken from New English File Upper-Intermediate)

Apart from being very creative, mini sagas also help you to look for synonyms, expand sentences, reduce others, to obtain exactly 50 words. Playing with language that way is very useful for your English :) And you have fun at the same time!

If you are a teacher, check this lesson plan to work with mini sagas in your classrooms!

So... do you dare to write one? If you need some tips, you can check how to write a mini saga.

I hope to see some in the comments below :)

Read more...

What podcasts can I listen to?

In the last years podcasts have undoubtedly become one of the most common tools to practise listening, which is probably the most difficult skill to develop. Given their short duration and their wide variety of topics, you can listen to them anytime, anywhere.

In a previous entry (Listening to English at home: podcasts) I talked about what podcasts are and how you can download them using iTunes. Today I give you some recommendations on what podcasts to listen to, categorised by levels.

• Elementary podcasts, by the British Council, for elementary levels:

• 6 Minute English, by the BBC, for all levels:

• Better at English, for intermediate levels and above:

• Splendid speaking, for advanced levels:

• Zapp! Vocabulary and pronunciation

• Pre-intermediate and Intermediate levels

• Advanced level

• Zapp! English colloquial podcast

• Pre-intermediate and Intermediate levels

• Advanced level

• Zapp! English listening podcast 

• Pre-intermediate and Intermediate levels

• Advanced level

By all means, this is only a brief selection of podcasts. If you want to look for others, check the 12 English podcasts every English learner should listen to!

Read more...

When should you not use a comma: correcting a run-on sentence

Hi there!

A couple of days ago I published an entry about rules for using commas. Today we're going to focus on the opposite: when should you not use a comma! More specifically, we're going to focus on run on sentences, which appear over and over again in your compositions. (You have some practice at the end of the entry).

A run on sentence (or run together sentence) is composed of two separate sentences punctuated as if they were only one. Normally, run-on sentences happen because you have in mind two closely related ideas and write them down quickly, with only a comma in between. For example,

Everyone felt happy, it was the first warm day of the year.

Mike forgot the matches, I forgot the salt.

She likes quiz programs, he likes Westerns.

Since you are concentrating on the meaning, you do not stop to notice that you have written two complete sentences which must be appropriately separated...!

WARNING SIGNAL

The second sentence of a run-together often begins with one of the following words: then, there, now, he, she, it, we, they. When you spot one of these "warning signals" in the middle of a sentence, check it carefully. There is a good chance that it is a run-together!!

First she told us how to get there, then she drew a map.

Jack didn't lie, he just exaggerated.

Don't wear the orange coat, it clashes with your dress.

CORRECTING RUN-TOGETHER SENTENCES

There is more than one way to correct a run-together sentence. You decide which one to use!

1. Divide the run-together using a full stop:

First she told us how to get there, then she drew a map.

First she told us how to get there. Then, she drew a map.

2. Use a semicolon (;) instead of a comma:

We had to leave Fluffy at home, Grandma doesn't like cats.

We had to leave Fluffy at home; Grandma doesn't like cats.

3. Insert a connector like and, but or because after the comma, depending on how the sentences are related:

The living-room is beige, the bedroom is green.

The living is beige, and the bedroom is green.

Last summer I did nothing, this summer I'm going to camp.

Last summer I did nothing, but this summer I'm going to camp.

Ben wore his sunglasses to school, his regular glasses were broken.

Ben wore his sunglasses to school, because his regular glasses were broken.

PRACTICE

Now it's time for you to practice! Click to take a quiz on run-on sentences!

Read more...

8 rules for using commas

We all know that punctuation is not easy, and we very often have trouble when writing our compositions. Today we're going to focus on 8 rules for using commas that I hope will help you!

Read the rules and the examples below carefully, and check them again when you write your next composition. If you do this regularly, little by little these rules will become automatic and you won't need to look back at them! :)

(Adapted from www.eslbasics.com)

RULE #1:

Use commas to separate words or phrases in a series of three or more.

I need to pick up bananas, tuna, bread, and ice cream from the grocery store today.

RULE #2:

Use a comma to separate independent clauses when they are joined by and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. You do not need to use a comma if both independent clauses are short.

We agreed to come with Sarah, but we told her that we would need to leave early.

RULE #3:

Use commas when the relative clause is non-defining, that is, when it gives extra, unnecessary information.

Mr. Perryman, who enjoys playing golf, decided to retire in Florida.

The boy who lives next door to us is in the fourth grade.

RULE #4:

Use commas after introductory phrases and clauses that come before the main clause. If the introductory phrase has less than three words, the comma is optional.

When the clock struck midnight, the carriage turned back into a pumpkin.
After you leave school, make sure to pick up the mail.
Next Saturday we will be getting married.

RULE #5:

Use commas before and after "interrupting words" such as however and therefore.

I would, therefore, like to continue this conversation at another time.

RULE #6:

Use a comma after introductory adverbs.

Fortunately, Samir had remembered to back up his files.
Unsurprisingly, Raul passed the class with flying colours.

RULE #7:

Use commas when directly addressing a person (vocative).

Have you, Millie, considered going to college?
What do you think that means, Doctor?

RULE #8:

Use a comma before question tags.

You're a senior in college, aren't you?


I hope you have found this entry useful! Now make sure you also check the entry When should you not use a comma: correcting a run-on sentence. Little by little we'll become punctuation experts! :)

Read more...