English Preparation

Steps in writing a discussion essay

2009-02-22T11:10:00.006+11:00

There are some useful steps to make an effective discussion essay. The steps are also important in the real exam where you can manage your time effectively. The first step is to build a home consisting our main ideas or mind map in which the topic sentence are expanded into more details to support the author's arguments. As an example, this post will try to respond to the following question:Can a

General English: Describing a place

2009-02-11T01:21:00.003+11:00

BALI, The Island of The GodsWhen you say ‘Bali’, most westerners will think of paradise tourism. Bali is a famous beautiful island known as ‘The Island of The Gods’.Bali is located between Java and Lombok. It has an area of 5620 square km. The island is dramatically mountainous. Gunung Agung, known as The Mother Mountain, is over 3000 m high. Bali has four lakes: Lake Batur, which is located in

Describing a process: Making Chocolate

2009-02-09T00:52:00.000+11:00

The writing example below is an example of writing task 1 in IELTS test. Unfortunately, we could not provide the picture of the process.The first diagram illustrates the process of making chocolate. The process begins with cocoa grinding, in which cocoa seeds are grinded to produce cocoa liquor. It also results waste products. Then, cocoa liquor either is pressed become cocoa powder and sold to

Some Idioms

2008-04-22T20:27:00.003+10:00

Below are some idioms to make your speaking more fluent, more natural as well as easier to understand what native speakers say.crack the books = start studying cut class = miss school feel at home = feel comfortable or relaxed keep an eye on = watch carefully homesick = sad at being away from home or things that are familiar get under someone's skin = annoy or bother someone stay-at-home mom = a

Writing Task 2: Home schooling

2008-04-15T22:39:00.007+10:00

An example of writing task 2 in IELTS test that tries to respond to a question as to which one is better home schooling or formal education at school.There are many arguments for and against school as the best place for education. Some people believe that education at home is more effective in many ways. On the other hand, education practitioners think that school is the most suitable place to

Writing Task 2: Computer a Hindrance?

2008-03-23T00:43:00.006+11:00

Below is an example of IELTS writing task 2. The question is about whether computer is a hindrance or a help. It is frequently asserted that computer is more a hindrance than a help, while some people still contend that these modern tools are indispensable. It is my contention that in some ways computers are unhelpful. However, the advantages of computers, in my view, largely outweigh the

Writing Task1: Useful Words

2008-03-23T00:17:00.005+11:00

Some useful words in IELTS writing task 1 that can be used especially in describing charts and graphs.Expressing Ups : rocket, soar, improve, bound/ bounce, rise, grow, escalate, increase, above trend, levitate, shoot up, jump up, surge, enhance, climb, upwards, hike/ boom, leap/ leapt.Expressing Downs:plunged, crash down, tumble, fall (down), fall over, collide, decrease, shrink, sink, drop,

The Continuous

2008-03-08T12:09:00.007+11:00

We use continuous forms for actions and happenings that have started but not finished. Stative verbs are not normally used in this way.ThinkWhen think means ‘believe’ or ‘have an opinion’, we do not use the continuous:- I think Ady is Balinese, but I’m not sure. (not I am thinking)- What do you think about my plan? (= What is your opinion)When think means ‘consider’, the continuous is possible:-

Dynamic Verbs

2008-03-08T12:05:00.002+11:00

Verbs that relate to activity or change are called dynamic verbs.Dynamic verbs – durative (continuous act)Verbs such as live, work, rain, stay, talk, sleep, study, sing, teach are durative because they give no indication of their duration/termination. This property becomes most noticeable when the difference between the present perfect simple and continuous is almost neutralised by the aspect of

Static Verbs

2008-03-08T12:01:00.004+11:00

When verbs have a stative sense it usually cannot occur in a continuous tense.The lists of verbs that have or can have a stative sense are shown below.1. Mental and emotional statesBelieve, doubt, feel (opine), imagine, know, like, love, hate, prefer, realize, remember, see (understand), think (opine), want, wish2. SensesAppear, hear, look (seem), see, smell, sound, taste3. Reactions etc.(dis)

Writing Task 2: Creative Artists

2007-06-21T13:15:00.002+10:00

This is an example of IELTS writing Task 2, which tries to answer the following question:Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express their own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There should be no government restrictions on what they do. To what extent do you agree with this statement?There are some who argue that giving freedom in expressing

Writing Task 2: Traditional vs International Music

2007-06-21T13:14:00.002+10:00

This is an example of IELTS writing task 2, and tries to answer question: ...why music is important and which one is more important, traditional or international musicIn many countries, music has become a part of human lives. There are many kinds of music from traditional music to international music. This essay seeks to show the reasons why people need music and that music is a universal art so

Writing Task 2: Alternatives to Fossil Fuels

2007-06-21T13:04:00.002+10:00

This is an example of IELTS writing Task 2, which tries to answer the question:...to what extent do you agree that exploring and finding safe alternatives to fossil fuels should be the most important global priotity ?There are some who argue that using coal and oil to generate electricity is undoubtedly an effective method. However, others still contend that burning these fuels has many harmful

Describing Graphs: Books Bought

2007-06-21T12:37:00.002+10:00

Below is an example of IELTS writing task 1, especially on how to describe a chart or graph. Inspite of having no picture, I hope the experssion, structure, vocabulary and connecting words used are still worthwhile.The graph indicates the average number of books bought per person per year from 1960 to 1990. Over the 30-year period, the trends were upward. The number of paperbacks bought was

Describing Charts: Cigarette Advertising

2007-06-21T12:31:00.002+10:00

Below is an example of IELTS writing task 1, especially on how to describe a chart or graph. Inspite of having no picture, I hope the experssion, structure, vocabulary and connecting words used are still worthwhile. The bar chart indicates the expenditure on cigarette advertising per media in Indonesia from 1995 to 2005. In general, there was a decline in expenditure. National newspaper and

Describing a process: Camera

2007-06-21T12:26:00.002+10:00

In IELTS writing task 1, sometimes we are asked to describe a process. Here, I present an example of how to describe the development of the camera. Unfortunately, I cannot present the diagram or picture, but we can learn the expression, structure, and connecting word used.---------------------------------The diagrams illustrate how the camera has developed since its invention in 1893. Basically,

Practicing Present Perfect Tense

2007-06-21T12:13:00.003+10:00

Present perfect tense is commonly used in our daily conversation. However, it is still difficult to be applied. Below is my writing to practice pesent perfect tense. It illustrates how my life has changed since I started my EAP.My Life Has ChangedI have worked as a physician as well as a lecturer in the Public Health School in Bali since I finished my first job in Central Sulawesi. My life has

Describing Someone

2007-06-21T12:07:00.001+10:00

This posting is an example as to how to describe someone. Find out the useful expressions used and important vocabulary when describing someone's education and carieer. This article is taken from my English for Academic Purposes and was corrected by my English teacher at IALF Bali.ERNI’S EDUCATION AND CAREERErni graduated from the Economics Faculty of Gadjah Mada University in 2003. Her major

Comparing and Contrasting

2007-06-21T11:28:00.001+10:00

This writing is an example of how to compare and contrast one thing to another. The important thing here is how to use the connecting words. This example is comparing and contrasting the condition of two families. This is taken from my EAP course and was corrected by my English teacher.The welfare of a family is determined by how well they fulfil their basic needs for food, housing, and security.