November 24, 2012

Weekly Finds: November 24, 2012

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

Learning A New Skill – Not What You Expected?

If you’re learning a new skill, breaking a new habit, or simply trying to change yourself for the better, it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen if you commit.

In Grammar, Possession is Less than Nine-Tenths of the Law

The author shares a good guide to avoid confusion on possessive punctuation.

The Life of a Cask From Wine to Whiskey

An infographic on the life of a cask, from wine to whiskey. Find out where casks start their life and see how Scotch is dependent on Sherry. This could be helpful for your describing a process or object in IELTS Writing.

The oddest English spellings, part 21: Phony from top to bottom

The author discusses spellings involving words with "ph."

Ten facts about the word ‘chocolate’

The author looks at ten facts relating to the word ‘chocolate’, and how that word has contributed to the English language.

Idioms Referring to Colors of the Rainbow

The six colors of the spectrum have contributed significantly to expressions and turns of phrase that are themselves often quite colorful. Here’s a sampling of idioms employing the words for colors.

A Listening procedure step by step.

The author discusses the basic framework for listening skills work that provides a step-by-step procedure for teachers and the opportunity for children to gain confidence through successful task completion.

26 Beatnik Slang Words and Phrases We Should All Start Using

Plenty of phrases from the first self-described hipster generation have lasted into modern conversation: people still get bent out of shape, annoying people bug us and muscular guys are still built, just to scan the b-words. Here are 26 words and phrases that don’t get much use today, but are worth sneaking into conversation.

10 Phrasal Verbs in Conversation

Learn 10 English phrasal verbs from examples of everyday conversations.

4 easy ways to practise your speaking confidence off the stage

Learn some practical ways to practice your speaking skills.

OVERCOMING SHYNESS: HOW TO FEEL MORE CONFIDENT

You don't have to let shyness cripple you. If you follow these three steps, you can start building your confidence today.

Presenting vocabulary

This article looks at what needs to be taught when teaching vocabulary and ways to present and teach vocabulary.

The Fallacy of Not Splitting the Infinitive

The author shares the tale of splitting infinitives.

Getting lectured by people who don’t know English

The author reacts to a comment on his old blog post that talked about "one of the only."

35 Fossil Words

Here is a list of some of our language’s fossil words with definitions and the idiomatic phrases in which they appear.

Why the Adverb Isn’t as Dead as Mark Twain Would Like

The author shares the view that writers need to be even more dedicated in stamping out the adverb.

Some / Any / No + Exercises

Learn how to use them. Check out the exercises.

Me, myself and I

Learn how to use them.

Body Language Mistakes: 5 Ways to Destroy Your Own Message

Body language can help give you presence and charisma. But it can also undermine your message. Learn 5 mistakes you should avoid!

My Best Advice for Becoming a Better Speaker is. . .

Like all the skills you now own, The Learning is in the Doing! If you want to be a writer - Write! If you want to be a piano player - Play the Piano! If you want to be a Speaker - Speak! - Speak! - Speak!

November 23, 2012

2013 IELTS Test Dates - IDP Philippines

Am I organized?
Photo credit: koalazymonkey on Flickr.

UPDATE:

2014 IELTS Test Dates now posted. Read here.


The IDP Philippines has posted the 2013 IELTS Test dates on its Facebook Page.

A copy of the said schedule is posted here for reference. Regularly check and verify the schedules at the IDP Philippines website for any changes.

Cheers!

October to December 2013





August to October 2013



2013 IELTS Test Dates - IDPPhils - Aug-Oct



June to September 2013



2013 IELTS Test Dates - IDPPhils - Jun-Sep



2013 IELTS Test Dates - IDPPhils - Mar-Jun by HighPoint IELTS Preparation Services, Inc.



2013 IELTS Test Dates - IDPPhils - Jan-Apr


2013 IELTS Test Dates:

- British Council

- IDP

November 17, 2012

Weekly Finds: November 17, 2012

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

Yes, people do judge you by your grammar

The authors share some of the common grammar errors that they've seen around their site, ActiveRain.

3Qs: Neologisms for the internet age

Northeastern University office asked Heather Lit­tle­field, asso­ciate aca­d­emic spe­cialist and head advisor of the lin­guis­tics pro­gram in the Col­lege of Sci­ence, to com­ment on our modern taste for dig­ital jargon.

Homophones, Homonyms, and Homographs

Find out what the differences and similarities are and pick up tips for remembering them.

Does ‘decimate’ really mean ‘destroy one tenth’?

The complaint about the word typically centers on the fact that decimate is used improperly to refer to ‘destroying a large portion of something’, when the ‘true’ meaning of the word is ‘to put to death (or punish) one of every ten’.

Proper Use of the Ellipses

The author discusses the proper use of the ellipses, along with a little insight as to where it's most commonly used.

The Serial Comma

Learn how to correctly use the serial comma.

Common Errors in English: Ask + Prepositions

Learn the difference between ask, ask for, ask to, and ask about - to avoid this common error in English with prepositions.

Subjunctivitis

Read the author's discussion of the subjunctive mood.

If One Were to Use the Subjunctive Mood Properly

Here's another discussion on the subjunctive mood. This could be useful for Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking Exam.

Answering Students’ Grammar Questions: When Do I Use “All of the,” “All the,” or “All”?

Which is correct: all of the people, all the people, or all people?

Take Massive Action – Steps to Help You Achieve Excellent Results!

When you take little or no action, you will receive little or no results. This is the law of the universe, and there isn’t anything that you can do to change it.

A cautionary vision of things to come

Here's a funny article about the word "literally."

The language of criminals

We English speakers owe so much to our roguish forebears, who revolutionised our language.

Using the Correct Word

The author discusses the misconjugation of the verb "dive."

Common Comma Usage

This post presents 11 rules (with accompanying examples) for comma usage in English.

The Secret to Being Self-Taught: Curiosity

One thing most self-taught (and self-made) people have in common is curiosity—immense, driving curiosity. If you can develop your curiosity and have patience, you can learn anything on your own.

Grammar habits are too hard to break: Jarvis DeBerry

The author shares his thoughts on the word "whom."

Why We Have Both “Color” and “Colour”

Find out why Noah Webster simplified American English spelling--and what differences weren’t his idea.

Watch Out for Those Progressive Verbs

The author discusses the importance of progressive verbs.

Reading Your Way to Better Writing

The author shares three tips to help us get better with writing.

November 10, 2012

Weekly Finds: November 10, 2012

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY OR NOT, THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Life is not about how many times we fall down, but how many times we get back up. As long as the second number is higher than the first, we’re doing just fine.

TOP ENGLISH PHRASES BORROWED FROM CHINESE

Amidst the debate of English's place within Chinese lexicography, here are the top ten English phrases of Chinese origin, with a few that may surprise you.

The 8 parts of speech—do you know them?

When asked this question by her fourth-grade daughter, the author blanked on three of them. She offers a refresher—with examples from a maritime author (yes, you read that correctly).

11 puzzling phrases and their meanings

From the ‘bee’s knees’ to ‘seeing a man about a horse,’ here are the definitions and origins behind some time-tested (and worn) phrases and words.

Words for Your Writing Toolbox: Get Rid of “Get”

The author shares this advice: "Get rid of get!" Check out her recommended substitutes.

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS A SIGN OF YOUR POTENTIAL

The author shares the value of constructive criticism.

Guess Which Tech Words Are Now In the Collins Dictionary?

Here are 29 tech-related words that you may now officially add to your vocabulary list.

Amazeballs and 85 other words enter Collins online dictionary

MORE than 80 words and terms including "blootered", "amazeballs" and "mummy porn" have been added to an online dictionary.

Plain English good. Basic English diabolical.

Plain English is both clear and precise. Basic English is fiendishly difficult for EFL and ESL users. And Global English works for everyone.

Dating Slang Terms

What slang or colloquialisms do you use when referring to dating and relationships?

A SIMPLE PROCESS TO TURN FEAR INTO POWER

The author shares a simple process she uses to pursue her personal passions and visions, despite her fear.

4 Words That Someone Should Have Invented by Now

The author shares some words that he coined.

Back in the day, revisited

Where does the expression back in the day come from?

It's actually quite interesting

Are the words actually and really interchangeable?

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH OUTLINE AND IMPROMPTU SPEECH

The author shares tips on how to perform impromptu speeches.

November 3, 2012

Weekly Finds: November 3, 2012

A Man With Magnifying Glass by digitalart
Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Every week, we’ll be sharing a list of posts, stories, news, or opinions that we've run across the Internet during the past week or two. We won't be discussing them in detail here, but we do encourage you to check them out as they could contain valuable ideas and insights for your IELTS exam.

If you're ready, here we go...

Make Your Stress Work for You

We all face times when seemingly negative feelings—stress, impatience, nervousness—affect our ability to perform at our best, or simply rob us of our peace. But what if we could turn this around? What if those same feelings could actually be positive, or at least wield less negative influence?

When I split an infinitive, God damn it […] it will stay split

The author discusses split infinitives.

LEFT IN THE LURCH

If you're 'Left in the lurch', what is it exactly that you're left in?

5 great ways to improve your English!

The author discusses five great ways to improve your English. All aspects are covered: reading, writing, grammar, and speaking. There is no end to what you can learn, and no reason why you can’t have fun doing it!

The Most Annoying, Pretentious And Useless Business Jargon

Note these workplace words.

Strutting the boards: what you can learn from acting

The author shares "that public speaking is, or should be, a form of acting. While it’s true you’re playing 'yourself' and not another character, whatever you do up on that stage should be a gift to your audience. It’s all about them – not about you." This could be useful for your IELTS Speaking exam.

What's Your Style?: Style Guides and How to Use Them

The author has compiled a list of the most well known style guides and how to use them.

Use of but, though, in spite of and despite

All of these are words used to express contrast. While but and though are conjunctions, in spite of and despite are prepositions.

Does this excite you?

Are you excited for, by, or about something?

30 Synonyms for “Meeting”

The author shares thirty ways to label a meeting, depending on the particulars.

Get Disciplined, Not Motivated

Learn the drawbacks of merely relying on motivation.

Grammar Fun: Murder of English

Here's a funny infographic on grammar.

Relatively speaking: an untangling of that/who/which

The author answers the following question: "People often say that when referring to others when I believe they should say who or whom, e.g. “there’s somebody over there that I know”. Is this correct? [...] it seems to happen all the time."

15 Reduplicative Doublets

Reduplicative doublets are a small class of idioms in which a word is repeated after the conjunction and; such repetition is intended to provide an emphatic boost to a statement.

May the odds be ever in your favour: the language of The Hunger Games

The author takes a look at the language that brings Suzanne Collins’ world to life.

If Oprah and Michael Jordan Can Find Success.... So Can The Rest of Us

The author shares this important message with us: "Never let those who want to kill your dreams win!!!!"

When its and it's are both correct

The author discusses a rare case where it's and its are both correct in the same context with the same meaning.

Building idioms

Here is a list of idioms built around the names of buildings.

The Politically Incorrect Etymologies of 11 Words and Phrases

Here are some modern English words and phrases with socially insensitive origins.

Estimate vs. Guess

What’s the difference between estimate and guess? The distinction between the two words is one of the degree of care taken in arriving at a conclusion.