Happy New Year!

Happy happy new year everyone, wishing all your dreams come true in 2012 xxx

New page! Free self-study

Have a look at our NEW intermediate self-study page! 


We have collated a list of interesting free resources that we often give our students for 'homework'. Our students love these activities so much, we thought we'd share them with all of you. 

We have given each activity a title which tells you the main skill that you will practise. Then you can see the theme, for example Business English, and then a summary which includes some suggestions or instructions.  Click here to try it out. Have fun!

IDIOM: Can’t see the wood for the trees

If you can’t see the wood for the trees it means you can’t see the whole situation clearly because you are looking too closely at small details, or because you are too closely involved.

Examples of use:I’ve spent all morning looking for a birthday present for my dad! There is too much choice!!! I got so confused with it all, I can’t see the wood for the trees anymore.
 
In business:Mark is too concerned with the project details that he can’t see the wood for the trees when it comes to the overall long term goals of the company.

How to: use linking words in email

Although this post is geared towards linking words that you can use in email, these words can also be used in speech, presentations and in other writing forms such as reports.

Linking words are used to explain your argument clearly and carefully. See the list below:

• Adding another point (like saying 'and') > Furthermore / In addition
• Listing points > Firstly / Finally
• Making a contrast (like saying 'but') > However / Nevertheless
• Making a contrast (like saying 'although' > Even though / In spite of the fact that
• Giving the consequence (like saying 'so') > As a result / Therefore
• Giving the most important example > Above all / In particular
• Saying what the real situation is > In fact / In reality
• Introducing the final paragraph > Taking everything into consideration / In conclusion

How to: Negotiate a Project

Negotiating is a strong skill to have. What language do you need to do it in English? Below you can find some suggestions:

• Asking for information > What are your usual charges (fees/rates) for ....?
• Requests > Do you think you could ....?
• Emphasising a main point > My main concern at this point is ...
• Asking for input > How do you think we should deal with this?
• Making a suggestion > Why don't we...
• Negotiating: being firm > I understand what you are saying about ..., but ...
• Negotiating: being flexible > We would be prepared to ... (if...)
• Negotiating: agreeing > Okay. I am happy with that for now.
• Next steps > I'll be in touch soon with more details / Please get in touch soon with more details.

How to: Give advice

Giving advice: The following language is especially useful in email: 

Open the email: 

I was sorry to hear about the difficulties you are having.

or

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time at the moment.

Give advice:

I think it might be a good idea to ...

or

Have you thought of .....(+ ing)?

or

I think you should .....

or

What about ... (+ing)?

Explain why:

I think this would be the best option considering the circumstances.

or

I think it's better than .....

Close email:

I hope I've been of some help.

or

I hope I've helped a bit.

Beat it!

No, I'm not going to talk about the Michael Jackson song. Beat it in the sense of rhythm.... But what has this to do with learning English?

Did you know that English is a stress-timed language?

What this means is that the rhythm that we hear in English speech depends not on the number of words in a sentence, but the number of stressed syllables in those words.

Each word in English with more than one syllable has a stressed syllable. The stressed syllables are held longer and spoken slightly louder. 

We can show this by using the following simple system:

Ja-PAN     MAN-age-ment      SIM-ple        MU-sic      com-PU-ter     HO-li-day

Try it out.

How can this information help me?

Most students do not understand the concept of word stress until it is pointed out to them. In some languages, like French, words often have the same spelling, but the word stress in a different place but in English it is always in the same place. 

When you learn a new word, ALWAYS mark the stress. This means when you review the word, you will also remember how to pronounce it.