October 27, 2012

Weekly Finds: October 27, 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...

A Better Way to Practice

Whether it's learning how to code, improving your writing skills, or playing a musical instrument, practicing the right way can mean the difference between good and great.

Discussing Linguistics with Kanye West

Kanye West decided it was time to have a discussion about profanity in pop music on Sunday, particularly focusing on the way he, and other artists, use the b- and n- words.

Keeping Up with the Joneses

Know the rules on properly using apostrophes.

English Verbs Class | Verb Patterns

The author discusses verbs that go with the to-infintive, the gerund or -ing form, or both.

[REALITY CHECK] - GRAMMAR & PUNCTUATION – THE “RULES” ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN

The author argues: "Language is not static. Language evolves over time. Words come en vogue (or are invented) and some words become passé or archaic. As language changes, so do the 'rules' of its use."

Seven Ways to Overcome Inertia and Get Yourself Unstuck

In order to make changes in your life and achieve your goals, you need to use the law of inertia to your advantage; here’s how.

How to Email Your Professors

The author shares 5 tips to properly use email.

How to Deal With Revision Fatigue

The tip here could be useful for your IELTS Writing practice sessions.

How can I improve my writing?

There’s a lesson for writers… A lot of potential authors are simply too sensitive. As a writer, you need a place to bad, so that you can learn to be good.

How to project your voice

The author, Olivia Mitchell, answers a question: "I always feel that I am not able to project my voice and articulate the words properly. Is there any material / information on how I can improve these areas?"

Throw Your Life a Curve

The author's hypothesis is that those who can successfully navigate, even harness, the successive cycles of learning and maxing out that resemble the S-curve will thrive in this era of personal disruption.

What People in 1899 Thought the Year 2000 Would Look Like

The author writes: "If you asked me back in the year 2000, what 2012 was going to be like, I'm not sure I could have gave you a good answer. So you could imagine how wrong people back in 1899 were about the year 2000."

The Writing Life: The point of the long and winding sentence

Pico Iyer says writing longer phrases is a way to protest the speed of information bites people are subjected to each day.

Five Things I Know About Writing

The author shares his motto: "Tune out the infernal voice of the internal editor and just write. Put pen to paper and let the words flow."

13 signs with unintentionally suspicious quotation marks

The author shares that aside from the apostrophe, there's another punctuation mark out there that sign-makers can't seem to get the hang of, with often disastrous results.

4 Tips to Make the Most of Failure

Don't waste your next failure--follow these steps to make sure you get the most you can out of the experience.

Life as a Walking Typo

Here's a post that tells us why we should keep on trying despite the mistakes.

Grammar-grouching on 'myself' misuse

The author shares a few rules to help you through those times when you're not sure how to talk about yourself.

What Is the Plural of Scissors?

Get Grammar Girl's take on the plural of scissors. Learn why scissors and pants always seem to be plural.

Actually, Literally, What Your Crutch Word Says About You

The author shares her list of frequently used crutches, and what your crutch of choice has to reveal about you.

The Most Taboo Word in Our Vocabulary

The word "need" is being disgraced from our vocabularies -- which to me is erasing the humane component out of humanity. If properly embraced, it's what makes us human.

Breaking Stereotypes: A Vocabulary Lesson at the Flea Market

Have you misjudged anyone lately? Learned any new words? Seen a callipygian? Experienced pareidolia?

How to Coil Rope So It Doesn’t Get Tangled

You might say that rope's natural state is tangled. It's tangled when you're not using it, and tangled when you need it. But it doesn't have to be that way. You could get some tips here so you'd be ready when you're tasked to describe a process in IELTS Writing Task 1.

English Verb - To Spread

Learn about the various tenses for the verb "to spread."

More Reading for Better Writing

There's a lot you can do to develop better writing, like write every day and proofread your work. But the number one way to improve your writing is to read.

October 20, 2012

Weekly Finds: October 20, 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...

How to Learn in Your Sleep

Research published in Nature Neuroscience shows that we can learn entirely new information while we snooze.

The 5 Most Annoying Grammar Mistakes

The author lists some offences to the English language which she considers as simply inexcusable.

ENGLISH QUIZ: Can YOU crack these conjunctions?

The author invites us to answer some questions and find out just how good we are with the use of conjunctions in English grammar.

Clause I Said So: A Refresher Course On Sentence Types

The author focuses on the largest piece of the sentence’s construction—the clause.

Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media

The author believes that there are many common Internet terms that you will come across through your online work. She thus argues that not only is spelling important but the punctuation and consistent style are also important.

Memory Enhanced by a Simple Break After Reading

If you find it difficult to remember what you’ve read, try this easy technique.

Unique Words in the English Dictionary

Some words in the English dictionary are truly unique. English words found in the English dictionary aren’t always of English or American origin. Some words which were included were derived from the different languages from around the world.

How to talk about your friends in English

Will you play with me? Will you be my friend? Learn how to speak like an adult when you talk about your friends.

Slang Words: Relationships

Learn 10 American English slang words and expressions about relationships.

20 Redundant Phrases to Eliminate from Your Writing

Keeping your sentences crisp and clear can add punch to your writing, helping you get your point across more effectively.

Brain learns while you snooze

Even while in a deep slumber, people can still learn brand new information. Sleepers soak in new associations between smells and sounds, knowledge that lingers into the next waking day, researchers report online August 26 in Nature Neuroscience.

DOES ENGLISH HAVE THE BIGGEST VOCABULARY? THERE'S NO SIMPLE ANSWER

Find out how the author handles this.

Finding the right word

How do you choose the right word? Some just don’t fit what you’re trying to convey, either in the labor of love prose for your creative writing class, or the rogue auto-correct function on your phone.

Going to the movies

This post presents cinema related vocabulary, discussing synonyms for the word movie and vocabulary related to different types of movies.

25 Synonyms for “Delete”

Learn them all. Read on.

What are the 5 steps for changing bad habits into good ones?

The author shares her ideas on bad habits and good habits and suggests the best ways to turn one into the other.

NEW OXFORD DICTIONARY VOCABULARY BUILDER

Here's a list of some of the new words added to the Oxford Dictionaries Online.

Grown and growner

The author responds to the following remark made by TM:
A language anomaly of sorts that has entertained me for some time is the term "grown man."

First, it's a term that we use ONLY in circumstances where someone is, in fact, not acting like a grown man; yet the use of the term is literal, not ironic. E.g., "I can't believe that a grown man would act this way." The term is not used in any other context, as far as I know.

Second, there is no such term as "grown woman." No one ever says that.

Plural jam

Learn how to make compound words plural.

i.e. and e.g.: What they mean and how to use them

Here's a good discussion about the abbreviations i.e. and e.g.

6 Ways to Change Your Attitude Right Now

Want to change your attitude quickly? The author suggests six tricks to change your mood right now.

One Point English Lesson: Because, Since, & As

When you want to say the reason something happens, you can use because, since, or as. The author teaches us how these words are used.

Bad English is the lingua franca of science

Read the author's discussion on the widespread use of the English language in the field of science.

Why is something that is the very best known as ‘the bee’s knees’?

Read some interesting trivia about this expression.

How to Express and Accept Compliments in the English Language

Enrich your vocabulary by learning how to give and receive a compliment in English.

October 13, 2012

Weekly Finds: October 13, 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...

12 Negative Thoughts Holding You Back

The author claims that "your thoughts today create your life tomorrow." He thus shares twelve destructive thoughts to flush out of our minds.

English language is descended from ancient Turkey, experts claim

New Zealand scientists say Indo-European language family - including English, French, German and Hindi - originated up to 9,500 years ago in western Asia

Riddled with irregularity

Why are languages so different—and disorderly?

Learning while you sleep: Dream or reality?

Research suggests that sleep is an important contributor to learning, memory, creativity, and problem solving ability.

Essential lexical tools

The author shares a list of online resources that could help us with our vocabulary.

6 TIPS TO HELP YOU APPLY WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED

The author shares some tips on how "to act on our knowledge, and how we can overcome internal resistance for lasting positive change."

Democratic Dictionaries: From M to Nutter

The author shares her thoughts on online dictionaries.

An aha moment in lexicography

An opinion on the words recently added to the Merriam-Webster and Oxford Dictionaries Online.

More Pairs of Terms

The author shares his tips for correctly using the terms each other and one another.

The irony of using quotation marks for emphasis

People often use quotation marks to add emphasis to certain words but they’re actually subverting their intended meaning.

Does digital mean better?

The author shares his thoughts on technology as a tool in teaching the English language.

4 WAYS TO BECOME A GRAMMAR WIZ

Learning doesn't stop when you graduate from school. You can keep educating yourself in skills to use in your current life. A good grasp of grammar is one of those skills that can translate to any job.

Writers view on top punctuation howlers is the semicolon

The author shares some tips on how a semicolon should be used.

Who vs Whom

Who vs Whom: The Face-Off... Which one should you use? Which one is right?

100 Most Often Misspelled Words in English

Here's a very useful list on correct spelling.

A Chuck Close quote:

The author shares a very inspiring quote that could help us whenever we encounter challenges during our IELTS preparation or review.

Cool sites for English teachers

The author shares three sites where teachers could improve their teaching skills.

How to Deal with Problems Faced by Students of English?

The author discusses the main problems a person has to deal with in order to be a successful and satisfied language learner.

Accept or Except? The Top 10 Confusing English Words

The author shares some tips on using the right word at the right time.

The first written words of the English language

According to the author, the earliest known example of written words of the English language are preserved not in a book or manuscript, but in another location. Read where it was discovered.

5 Common Words That Create Failure

Your level of success is predetermined by the words you use every day. Do you agree?

A Man Once Tried to Raise His Son as a Native Speaker in Klingon

Computational linguist Dr. d’Armond Speers wanted to find out if his son (who was going through his first language acquisition process) would acquire the Klingon language like any human language.

10 COMMON GRAMMATICAL ERRORS THAT DRIVE TEACHERS NUTS.

The author shares ten of the most common grammatical errors that every teacher should aim to drive out their students.

'Make' or 'Do'?

It can be hard to decide when to use 'make' or 'do' in English. Read the article to learn the distinctions.

Are You Too Shy to Speak English?

Want to speak with confidence but just can't get the words out? The author shares some ways to overcome shyness. These could be useful for your IELTS Speaking test.

October 6, 2012

Weekly Finds: October 6, 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...

10 Things You Must Give Up to Move Forward

That author suggests that if you want to fly and move on to better things, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.

9 FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL RADICALLY ALTER THE WORLD

Here's the author's look at 9 future technologies that may soon make our present reality unrecognizable. This post could be helpful when you describe a process or object in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.

ASK A BLACK LAPEL STYLIST: HOW TO FOLD A SUIT JACKET WHEN TRAVELING

The author shares a folding method when packing suit jackets for a trip. This post could be helpful when you describe a process or object in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.


Should You Eliminate "Was" From Your Writing? Why Sometimes "the Rules" are Wrong.

The author argues why some grammar "rules" are wrong.

10 signs that desperately need to be proofread

The author shares public signs that contain language errors.

Express Yourself In Different Words – Say It Differently And Feel Different

The author shares valuable tips on how we could improve our vocabulary.

Top 14 Grammatical Offenses Of Bloggers

The author lists the common grammar errors that we should avoid when writing.

The Commonly Confused Words that English Learners Should Know

Here's another list of commonly confused words in English.

Million vs Millions

Learn the difference between Million and Millions and know when to use them.

Vocabulary – How to Use the Verb ‘Explain’!

The author shares how to correctly use the English verb 'explain.' This verb doesn't follow the same pattern as other verbs, so many learners use it incorrectly.

Seeing Is Believing? No, Saying Is Perceiving

Can robots learn language? Is understanding a language depending on how we see the world and does a Spanish speaker see the world in the same way as an English one?

Focus On: Grammar Blogs

The author shares a number of post ideas for grammar blogs.

Why can’t we spell English words phonetically?

English, whatever its merits as a language, is a bitch to spell. There are so many rules, and so many exceptions, and yet in the end you have to learn a lot of words on a case-by-case basis. If future linguists discover our written texts, what on Earth will they think English sounded like?

What I Have Learned About Learning a Foreign Language Legends and myths By Brian Thomas

The author shares tips on how to learn a language.

Speech Pauses: 12 Techniques to Speak Volumes with Your Silence

The author discusses the benefits of speech pauses, techniques for pausing while speaking, and communications research.

3 Ways to Stay Calm and Persevere

The author shares her thoughts on handling problems. Read on.

‘Lolz’, ‘Ridic’ and ‘Mwahahaha’ Added to Oxford Dictionaries Online

Check out the recently added words.

'Mwahahaha': Introducing Oxford Dictionaries' New Words

Another article covering the recently added words.

British English and American English

British people and American people can always understand each other – but there are a few notable differences between British English and American English.

7 Sets of Doublet and Triplet Verbs

The author shares a list of doublet and triplet verbs - "two or three more or less similarly spelled words with common etymologies that diverge to some extent in meaning, though the linked origins are usually apparent to the observant eye."

10 Success Principles We Often Forget

The authors share some reminders to address some of the basic success principles that govern our potential to make progress.

Hella ridic new words to make you lolz: ODO August 2012 update

Here's the official blog post with regard to Oxford Dictionaries recently additions to their online dictionary.

Activate your Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary and build your confidence by trying some of British Council's activities.

Pail / Bucket

Is "pail"/ bucket more common in US English than in British?

How To Recover When You Lose Your Train Of Thought

You could use the techniques here whenever you find yourself having memory lapses on your speaking exam.

October 5, 2012

2013 IELTS Test Dates - British Council Philippines

Am I organized?
Photo credit: koalazymonkey on Flickr.

UPDATE:

2014 IELTS Test Dates now posted. Read here.


The British Council Philippines has posted the 2013 IELTS Test dates on its website.

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

Cheers!

December 2013 (Updated)





May to December 2013



2013 IELTS Test Dates - BCPhils - May-Dec



2013 IELTS Test Dates - BCPhils - Jan-Jun


2013 IELTS Test Dates:

- British Council

- IDP