March 29, 2014

Weekly Finds: March 29, 2014

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...

LISTENING


Dude, Where's My Accent?

Jeff Conn, an expert in phonetics and dialects, is paying special attention to the way Portlanders pronounce words like caught, dude, and no. He’s monitoring those words for signs of a phantom invasion—he wants to know if your dude sounds like di-ood, if your caught sounds like cot, if your no sounds like ne-ow.

READING


High Chairs Help Toddlers Learn 'Messy' Words

Little ones grasp the words for ooey-gooey stuff better when they smear it, mush it and throw it around from their high chairs, new research finds. The study reveals that context is key for toddlers learning new things.

WRITING


How to Boost Your Sagging Motivation for Writing

The author encourages us to ask a few important questions to figure out how to rediscover our love of writing.

SPEAKING


Public Speaking & Presentation Skills: Don’t Be a Robot

The author observes that we often try to turn presentations into a science, when the best ones are actually more of an art.

GRAMMAR


Personal pronouns and possessives

We use personal pronouns (I, me, he, him, etc.) to replace names or nouns when it is clear what they refer to. We use possessives (my, your, her) when it is not necessary to name the person the thing belongs to. Learn more.

VOCABULARY


8 words you need to know to survive The Hunger Games

Whether your arena is a jungle, a desert, or a ticking time bomb, here are eight pieces of essential vocabulary you need to know in order to survive the Games. Don’t forget, knowing these definitions could save your life, and may the odds be ever in your favour!

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


Achieving Your Goals: How To Go From Spinning Your Wheels To Incredible Traction

Learn about the quarterback method and how it could help you in your goals.

December 21, 2013

Weekly Finds: December 21, 2013

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...

LISTENING


22 Maps That Show How Americans Speak English Totally Differently From Each Other

Check out how small lobsters are named in different parts of the US.

READING


Study: Reading novels makes us better thinkers

New research says reading literary fiction helps people embrace ambiguous ideas and avoid snap judgments.

WRITING


Essay Writing Tips: Essays Are Like Sandwiches!

If you want to write a good essay, it helps to think like a sandwich-designer. Like good essays, good sanwiches have organization by parts, strong introductions, and tight detail.

SPEAKING


12 Old Words that Survived by Getting Fossilized in Idioms

English has changed a lot in the last several hundred years, and there are many words once used that we would no longer recognize today.

GRAMMAR


Confusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns

How do you decide which form of a pronoun to use, as in the choices of the wording in “John is as fast as him” and “John is as fast as he”? Knowing the varieties of pronouns will help you choose the correct form.

VOCABULARY


Throne Soup: Our Favorite Words from ‘Game of Thrones’

Check out the author's favorite words from the show's past season.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


How to Learn from Mistakes

Check out the author's how-to guide with an accompanying mind map that will explain step-by-step how to learn from mistakes you make.

December 14, 2013

Weekly Finds: December 14, 2013

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...

LISTENING


16 business jargon words we never, ever want to hear again

Check out the author's list of the worst offenders.

READING


Benjamin Franklin’s Phonetic Alphabet

Franklin’s vision for American didn’t stop with independence and iconography. He also proposed a redesigned alphabet – a new language for a new nation.

WRITING


The Impact of Writing on Our Brain

Check out this interesting set of trivia on writing.

SPEAKING


I now pronounce you … Wait, how do I pronounce you?

Pronunciation is a source of constant controversy – and is it controversy or controversy?

GRAMMAR


Prepositions: The super-handy and horribly confusing widgets of language

To, from, of, by: The little linguistic bits that we use to fit in gaps and hold things together or keep them apart. The author argues that it's all arbitrary.

VOCABULARY


'Hobbitses' and Frankenstein: how pop culture's words become official

Though fantasy and sci-fi have invented hundreds of new words, only a few pass muster to make it into the dictionary.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


Stop Listening To The Positive Thinking Police

Ignoring your stress isn't "positive thinking." Learn how to acknowledge it and build constructive thoughts.

December 7, 2013

Weekly Finds: December 7, 2013

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...

LISTENING


A linguistic dissection of 7 annoying teenage sounds

Voiced alveolar stop and breathy-voiced low back unrounded vowel — better known as duhhh.

READING


If your brain were a computer, how much storage space would it have?

The comparison between the human brain and a computer is not a perfect one, but it does lend itself to some interesting lines of inquiry. For instance: what is the storage capacity of your brain?

WRITING


The History of Typography - Animated Short

Check out this paper-letter animation about the history of fonts and typography.

SPEAKING


How Warren Buffett And Joel Osteen Conquered Their Terrifying Fear Of Public Speaking

Don’t let your nerves get in the way of achieving your full potential. Take bold steps today to bring them under control so they enhance—and not harm—your career.

GRAMMAR


11 Compound Word Errors that Might Make You Look like a Numbskull

Check out this helpful list.

VOCABULARY


For the Word on the Street, Courts Call Up an Online Witness

Courts are looking to Urban Dictionary, a crowdsourced Web site, as one way to define words on which a case may turn.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


What does it take to Succeed?

Consistency, Practice & Routine. Read the details on this post.

November 30, 2013

Weekly Finds: November 30, 2013

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...

LISTENING


5 English Expressions with the Word CALL

Read this useful list.

READING


Ten things you might not have known about the English language

Learn the little-known facts about the origins of the English language.

WRITING


Famous Authors’ Handwritten Outlines for Great Works of Literature

Even these well-known authors draft outlines for their masterpieces.

SPEAKING


How to Schmooze at the Holiday Party

Get five tips to help you mingle and schmooze like a pro.

GRAMMAR


Capital letters and apostrophes

The rules for the use of capital letters and apostrophes are quite easy to remember.

VOCABULARY


20 of your favourite euphemisms

A Magazine feature about some well-known euphemisms got readers thinking about some of their favourites. Here is a selection.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


7 Reasons Why You Should Start Stressing Yourself Out

How can stress be a positive thing?

November 23, 2013

Weekly Finds: November 23, 2013

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...

LISTENING


-ate suffix revisited--advanced lesson

Listen to the proper pronunciation of the suffix -ate.

READING


Reading Wordless Storybooks to Toddlers May Expose Them to Richer Language

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have found that children hear more complex language from parents when they read a storybook with only pictures compared to a picture-vocabulary book.

WRITING


First, Second, and Third Person

Grammar Girl explains the difference between first person, second person, and third person. It all comes down to the pronouns.

SPEAKING


How to Use and Incorporate Gestures

Get expert tips on what your body language says about you and learn easy ways to naturally come across as more confident, approachable, calm, friendly, and intelligent by using and incorporating the right gestures.

GRAMMAR


“try to do” or “try doing”

The meaning of "I tried to watch the movie." is not the same as "I tried watching the movie." Watch this lesson and find out why.

VOCABULARY


Lay out vs. layout

Learn the difference.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


On The Importance Of Goal Setting: 6 Reasons Why You Need To Set Goals

Understanding the importance of goal setting and knowing how to set goals for yourself is crucial to accomplishing great things in your life.

November 16, 2013

Weekly Finds: November 16, 2013

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...

LISTENING


It's me or It's I?

You're trying to make the right impression as you knock on the door of your blind date's apartment, or on the door of the personnel manager who has your job application. "Who's there?" you're asked. What's your reply?

READING


WHAT IS THE OED AND WHY DO WE WANT PHILIPPINE ENGLISH TO BE IN IT?

Read the author's thoughts on why it is important for Philippine English to be a part of it.

WRITING


Precise Communication vs. Precise Information

Learn how to use them.

SPEAKING


What happens to our brains when we have stage fright: The science of public speaking

Palms sweaty. Heart racing. You know the feeling of stage fright. Whether it’s five people or fifty, public speaking is a gut-wrenching experience for most of us.

GRAMMAR


11 Infographics That Will Help You Improve Your Grammar and Spelling

In the era of texting, instant messaging and grumpy cat memes, proper grammar and spelling seem to have taken a backseat to the need to communicate with.

VOCABULARY


A little bit of pixie dust: five of Disney’s contributions to the English language

Check out some of Disney's words that made it all the way to the OED.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


Staying Up, Up, Up in a Down, Down World

Check out the benefits of having a cheerful and upbeat personality.

November 9, 2013

Weekly Finds: November 9, 2013

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...

LISTENING


English Conversation Lesson: Casual Greetings with "How" & What"

An English conversation a conversation usually starts with a question. There are two kinds of questions we use – how and what. Learn the rules.

READING


The English Language

The British Empire plastered the English language around the globe. But what is left of its legacy?

WRITING


10 Types of Transitions

Writing is simply a matter of expressing ideas, but as we all know, it’s not so simple after all. One challenge is to coherently connect those ideas.

SPEAKING


5 ways to say YES in English!

How many ways can you say yes? Expand your vocabulary by learning 5 popular ways native speakers respond positively to questions, without using the word yes.

GRAMMAR


Uses of the verb be and have in the simple present tense

The verb be has five forms: is, am, are, was and were. Of these, the forms is, am and are are used in the simple present tense. Was and were are used in the simple past tense.

VOCABULARY


Always Never Something: Eliminating Five Overused Words

The author shows how teachers can work with students to improve their writing by focusing on five overused words.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT


A Simple Exercise to Help You Get Unstuck

How do you use narrative structure to unearth your inner leader?

November 8, 2013

5 Techniques for Describing a Person's Appearance

Happy Face
Photo credit: mikecogh on Flickr.
In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking exam, you could be asked to describe a certain person. You could be asked to talk about a teacher, a person you admire, or a famous person you want to meet, among others.

Have you ever wondered how to go about answering these types of questions?

We've discovered this article from author Jody Hedlund where she was sharing the way to describe character appearances for her next novel. She thus suggests that we can make use of:

eye and hair descriptions.


You should mention eye color, hair color, hair length, or hair style.

other physical attributes


Let's say, the person had a thin face or knobbly knees.

verbal aspects


This applies when the person that you're describing has a favorite expression or catch phrase.

other characteristics


For example, a boy who's extremely forgetful.

actions


For instance, a person who always twitches his eyes.

TAKEAWAY:


Keep in mind that in your Speaking exam, your examiners are checking for the criteria of Lexical Resource and Fluency and Coherence. As these techniques involve the use of adverbs and adjectives, you would be able to highlight your skills in Lexical Resource. Also, if you add more descriptions on the person that you're talking about, then you could provide more depth to your two-minute talk in Part 2, which in turn would afford you a chance to get higher marks in Fluency and Coherence.


Hat tip to Jody Hedlund, for sharing these helpful techniques. Head on over to her blog for more information about writing.

November 6, 2013

How Do You Pronounce These Six Words?

Monster Boxes! "Purple Startle"
Photo credit: kellyhogaboom on Flickr.
We found this article written by Maeve Maddox and she was discussing the 50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should Avoid. Notable for Coach Jon and I were these six words because we've heard their mispronounced versions many times during conversations or on local TV.

Here are the 6 words, together with Ms. Maddox's tips:

aegis


This word shouldn't be pronounced / ay-his /. The ae in this word is rather pronounced / ee /. Therefore, it should be / EE-JIS /.

anyway


Anyways is not correct. The word is anyway.

cache


Coach Jon usually sees this word when technology websites talk about processors (CPUs). The word is pronounced as / KASH /. He remembers this because many years ago, he said / ka-shay /.

niche


/ Nitch / is not correct. / NEESH / is the correct one.

pronunciation


This should be / PRO-NUN-CI-A-TION /, not / pro-nounce-i-a-tion /.

vehicle


This one we hear often. When people say this word, we hear / vee-Hikl /. If you want to say this correctly, try / VEE-IKL /.

We know there are other difficult words out there. The good thing is that there are dictionary apps that could guide us with pronunciation. Let's make use of them. Who knows, improving your pronunciation could play a deciding factor in your quest for a high band score in Speaking.


Hat tip to Maeve Maddox, for sharing these helpful reminders. Head on over to Daily Writing Tips for more information about grammar, writing, and the English language.

November 5, 2013

Tongue Twisters for Your Speaking Exam

Tongue-twister
Photo credit: lo5t on Flickr.
Here's one tip that has worked for me in IELTS Speaking.

Before leaving home for the exam, I recite some tongue twisters just to help me avoid mispronouncing the words when I answer the examiner's questions. I usually visit a website for this. It's called Twister King. There, you'll see lots of practice exercises for each letter of the alphabet.

Say, you need to practice pronouncing the F, P, and TH sounds. Simply proceed to the relevant page, then practice. Here are some of my favorites:

Re: F
"Four free-flow pipes flow freely."

Re: P
"Pick a partner and practice passing, for if you pass proficiently, perhaps you'll play professionally."

Re: TH
"Tim, the thin twin tinsmith."

Keep in mind that in the IELTS speaking test, one criteria checked by your examiners is pronunciation. In other words, to get high scores when it comes to pronunciation, IELTS candidates should always pronounce words in the correct manner. You don't need to spend a whole hour for the tongue twister exercises. Even a few minutes would be enough to warm you up. However, if you decide to make it an everyday habit to recite an exercise or two, then good for you. You'll be on your way to improving your performance in the exam.


Hat tip to Twister King, for sharing these helpful exercises. Head on over to the site to improve your pronunciation for the IELTS exam.

November 4, 2013

2 Ways to Highlight Your Skill in Lexical Resource

plushteam blog words
Photo credit: patti haskins on Flickr.
Lexical Resource is a criteria of your IELTS writing and speaking exam. Here, your examiners are checking on the extent of your vocabulary skills in your writing tasks and speaking performance. Despite this requirement, many candidates still copy the exact words from the question. Others always repeat the same set of words. As a consequence, they fail to highlight their skill in vocabulary. In other words, this becomes a possible cause for their low band scores in the IELTS exam.

How do we maximize our band scores with regard to Lexical Resource?


The goal is for you to use a variety of related words. We came across an article by writer Jeff Goins where he mentioned two specific solutions that could help you with your IELTS exam.

He recommends that we:

Use a more descriptive noun.


For example, instead of merely saying the generic word 'machine,' we could use a more accurate term such as 'grass cutter' or 'lawn mower,' when we are talking about garden care.

Or, use a better verb.


For instance, instead of just saying the commonly used word 'make,' why not use a suitable word like 'produce,' 'assemble,' or 'manufacture?'

TAKEAWAY:


If you find yourself having this problem of copied/repeated words, remember these 2 tips. Not only will you be able to express compelling arguments, but you will also be able to clearly convey your ideas. This translates to a good chance of complying with criteria of Lexical Resource, which then affords you an opportunity to receive a better overall band score.


Hat tip to Mr. Jeff Goins, for sharing these important tips. Head on over to his blog to learn more about writing.