English Teacher Melanie

Pronunciation - How to Say Names of Actresses (video)

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:54:00 +0000

Do you like to watch English TV shows and movies? Do you get nervous if you have to say the name of an actress? Don't worry! Even native speakers have trouble pronouncing some of these names.

Adele

Drew Barrymore

Kate Beckinsale

Halle Berry

Cate Blanchett

Helena Bonham Carter

Sandra Bullock

Penélope Cruz

Kaley Cuoco

Ellen Degeneres

Zooey Deschanel

Cameron Diaz

Whoopi Goldberg

Anne Hathaway

Rita Hayworth

Katherine Heigl

Audrey Hepburn

Milla Jovovich

Angelina Jolie

Keira Knightley

Gwyneth Paltrow

Michelle Pfeiffer

Chloe Sevigny

Amanda Seyfried

Charlize Theron

Liv Tyler

Emmanuelle Vaugier

Sigourney Weaver

Rachel Weisz

Kate Winslet

And the Oscar Goes to ...

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

(Photo by lincolnblues)

Will you be watching the Academy Awards on Sunday night?

Here are some posts on my blog about the Academy Awards and movies!

Vocabulary Spotlight on: The Oscars!

Vocabulary Spotlight on: Going to the Movies!

Listening Lesson: Sex and the City 2!

Have a great weekend!

Pronunciation - How to Say Names of Actors (video)

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:28:00 +0000

Do you like to watch English TV shows and movies? Do you get nervous if you have to say the name of an actor? Don't worry! Even native speakers have trouble pronouncing some of these names.

In this video, I show you how to pronounce the names of 29 actors. Not all of these actors are from an English-speaking country, but this is how to pronounce their names in American English.

Dan Aykroyd

Christian Bale

Javier Bardem

Jim Caviezel

George Clooney

Sean Connery

Russell Crowe

Tom Cruise

John Cusack

Matt Damon

Leonardo DiCaprio

Vin Diesel

Laurence Fishburne

Zach Galifianakis

Ryan Gosling

Adrian Grenier

Jake Gyllenhaal

Anthony Hopkins

Heath Ledger

Taylor Lautner

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew MacFadyen

Ewan McGregor

Liam Neeson

Joaquin Phoenix

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Kiefer Sutherland

Eric Szmanda

Denzel Washington

Vocabulary - Linsanity, Tebowmania, & Bieber Fever Explained!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:23:00 +0000

We love playing with words in English and creating new words!

Recently in North America, three new words have been created to describe excitement about someone. You probably have never heard of these three people, but in a short amount of time they have become very popular in North America. People get VERY excited about them - much more excited than usual!

Let's take a look at these words in more detail.

Linsanity!

(Photo by DvYang)

This word is a combination of the last name of basketball player Jeremy Lin and the word insanity. Lin rhymes with in-, so the two words are easily combined. Linsanity describes the sudden excitement and attention around Jeremy Lin.

Linsanity is basketball games selling out (all the tickets for the game are sold) in every city where his team plays. Linsanity is a 3000% increase in demand for a Lin basketball jersey (shirt). Linsanity is Jeremy Lin on the cover of Sports Illustrated, a popular American sports magazine!

Lin has become very popular recently because he has helped his team, the New York Knicks, win 7 straight games. He has surprised everyone with his skills. He played in the NBA for two years before anybody noticed him. Few people thought he would succeed. He is Asian, which is rare in the NBA (most of the players are black), and he graduated from Harvard University, a school not known for sports!

Tebowmania!

(Photo by Jeffrey Beall)

It is also common in English to use the word mania when people get very excited about someone or something. For example, in the 1960s Beatlemania described how millions of American girls went crazy for the British pop band the Beatles!

Tim Tebow is a popular football player in the NFL (National Football League). He is a quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Many people didn't expect him to succeed in the NFL. They didn't think he was good enough. Like, Lin, he surprised everyone! When it looked like the Broncos were going to lose a game, he always found a way to win! It was extraordinary!

Tebowmania is everyone talking about Tim Tebow, even people who don't normally watch football! Tebowmania is people buying Tebow football shirts but with 'Jesus' on it intead of Tebow (Tim Tebow is Christian). Tebowmania is 42 million people watching a football game (Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers) and watching Tim Tebow win the game in overtime. Tebowmania is Tebow on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine!

Bieber Fever!

(Photo by Adam Sundana)

If you are crazy about Justin Bieber, you have Bieber Fever!

Justin Bieber is an 18-year-old singer who was discovered on YouTube. He has sold over 12 million records around the world. Young girls go crazy for him! While fever often describes a a higher than normal body temperature, it can also describe a state of excitement or enthusiasm. It also rhymes with Bieber, so it's a great match! Sometimes Bieber Fever is also called Biebermania!

Bieber Fever is girls screaming very loudly for Justin Bieber. Bieber Fever is 17 million fans on Twitter and 42 million fans on Facebook. Bieber Fever is young girls surrounding the hotel where Justin Bieber is staying and blocking off all the streets. Bieber Fever is girls camping overnight downtown Los Angeles just to see Justin Bieber at the premiere for his movie!

Have you ever been very excited about a sports player, actor, singer, or other celebrity? Tell me in the comments below! ☺

♥ Love is in the Air! ♥

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:08:00 +0000

(Photo by Nicole Pierce)

Happy Valentine's Day!

February 14

Read about the history of Valentine's Day and how we celebrate it.

Listen to a story about my parents, who have been married for over 50 years!

Learn vocabulary to talk about weddings (make sure you're using 'wedding party' correctly!), relationships (what is an 'ex'?), and marriages!

What are you doing to celebrate Valentine's Day? If you don't celebrate Valentine's Day, do you celebrate another day for love?

Grammar - Why is it 'the Grammys' and not 'the Grammies'?

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:26:00 +0000

The movie industry has the Oscars. The TV industry has the Emmys. The music industry has the Grammys.

(Photo by Thomas Hawk)

Every year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences hands out the Grammy Awards. This year the Grammy Awards are on Sunday, February 12. The awards are for outstanding achievement in all areas of the American music industry (musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, etc.) The award handed to the winners is a statuette of a gramophone. (The gramophone was an early type of record player invented by Thomas Edison.)

Why do we call the awards show the Grammys, and not the Grammies?

By now all of you know the 'rules' for plural nouns. If a noun ends in consonant + y, the plural is made by changing the y to an i and adding -es:

baby --- babies
party --- parties
candy --- candies
berry --- berries

So, shouldn't it be the Grammies?

No! There is an exception to every rule in English. The 'rule' does not apply to PROPER NOUNS!

A proper noun is the NAME of a person, place, or thing, and it always starts with a capital letter. Grammy is the name of the prize and the award show on TV. The only way to make proper noun plural is to add -s or -es, depending on the final letter of the noun.

The plural of Grammy is Grammys. The plural of Blackberry is Blackberrys. The Emmy awards are called the Emmys, not the Emmies.

This is also why the hockey team in Toronto is called the Maple Leafs, not the Maple Leaves.

Can you think of more proper nouns that don't follow the 'rules'?

Confusing English Verbs - Wear or Dress?

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:10:00 +0000

(Photo by an untrained eye)

To wear

= to have clothes on your body

You wear clothes.

This is the most common verb that you'll use to talk about clothes.

What are you wearing today?

I'm going to wear my new shoes to school tomorrow!

He wore a tie yesterday.

I haven't worn this dress in ages!

Similar to wear, you can also have clothes on or have on clothes.

What is she wearing? She has a red sweater on.

Have you seen Ben today? He has on a new suit!

To dress

= to put clothes on yourself or someone else.

After you dress yourself, you are wearing clothes.

It's cold outside so dress warmly! (= put on warm clothing)

I always dress to impress!

She likes to dress her children in stylish clothing.

We also use dressed as an adjective. It means 'wearing clothes.'

She is dressed in a vintage Givenchy gown.

We are dressed for success!

She is always so well-dressed.

I'm not dressed for this kind of weather.

Get dressed = put clothes on (yourself); this is more common and less formal than dress.

Aren't you dressed yet? Hurry up and get dressed!

I didn't get dressed until after lunch!

In the morning I wake up, shower, get dressed, and then eat breakfast.

Learn about Fashion & Shopping in English!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:01:00 +0000

(Photo by Swamibu)

One thing that makes learning English a bit easier is studying things you enjoy! So, if you're into fashion and shopping, this post is for you. New York Fashion Week starts next week! This is a big event in the fashion world. Here are all the posts on my blog about fashion and shopping, as well as links to Canadian and American magazines.

You can learn more about New York Fashion Week on its website.

Blog Posts:

Vocabulary Spotlight On: Fashion Week!

Vocabulary - How to Talk about Shopping!

Vocabulary - How to Talk about Fashion, Part 1 - Adjectives

Listening Lesson - Shopping at the Mall!

Expressions - How to Say Something is Expensive!

Canadian Fashion Magazines and Newspapers:
Fashion
Elle Canada
Flare
National Post - Style Section
The Globe and Mail - Fashion and Beauty Section

American Fashion Magazines and Newspapers:
Vogue
Elle
Style
Women's Wear Daily
New York Times – Style Section
New York Magazine – Fashion Section

Vocabulary - All About Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:03:00 +0000

What does snow look like?

Snow (an uncountable noun) is made up of millions of individual snowflakes. Each snowflake is unique. No two snowflakes look the same. Of course, snowflakes are so tiny that it's impossible to compare them, but every Canadian schoolchild learns that each snowflake is unique!

(Photo by Sam Javanrouh)

A light snowfall creates a dusting of snow. More snow creates a blanket of snow. It is so beautiful outside just after a snowfall, when everything is covered in white.

If it is windy outside after a snowfall, the wind creates snowdrifts, small piles or hills of snow!

How does snow fall?

Snow falls to the ground. However, snow can also be used as a verb:

It's snowing!
Do you think it will snow tomorrow?

When the snow falls softly, it is beautiful! If the snow falls for a short period of time, it's called flurries, or a snow flurry. If the wind starts blowing the snow all over the place for a long period of time, it's called a snowstorm. When the wind starts blowing the snow so fast that you can't see anything in front of you for a long period of time, it's a blizzard. Finally, if one minute it is peaceful outside, and then all of a sudden the wind is furiously and violently blowing the snow everywhere, it's a snow squall.

(Photo by Aaron Alexander)

It's really tough to take a picture of snow falling!

What does snow sound like like?

Snow does not make a sound as it falls from the sky and lands on the ground. However, you make a lot of noise when you walk on snow. The colder it is outside, the more sound snow makes! Below 0° Celsius, snow that is packed on the ground squeaks beneath your feet. When there is more snow and the snow has turned to ice, it crunches when you walk on it!

What does snow feel like?

(Photo by Shandi-Lee)

Snow feels cold! It's hard to feel snow, though, because snowflakes melt and turn into water as soon as they touch your skin. Sometimes, if the snowflakes are clumped together, they stay for a little while. Have you seen The Sound of Music? One of Maria's 'favourite things' is...

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

... because this rarely happens!

There are different types of snow. Light and dry powdered snow is great for skiing. Hard, wet packing snow is great for making snowballs and snowmen.

When it gets warmer and the snow begins to melt, it turns into slush.

Can you think of more words to describe snow?

American Slang: 5 Things You Can Say About Extreme Sports!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:03:00 +0000

Big air.

(Photo by Today is a Good Day)

Slang isn't really something you can teach or study. It usually just comes naturally. However, if you're into sports, or you spend a lot of time watching American TV shows and movies, or listening to American music, you've probably heard a few strange words that you can't find in a dictionary. Here's an explanation of some slang used in the world of extreme sports.

1. Sick. Ill. Dope. Sweet. (adjectives)

= differet ways of saying awesome, cool, or amazing.

*also used by young people outside the world of extreme sports

His style is so ill.

The X Games is the place to show off sick new tricks!

I bought some sweet gear for the slopes this season!

That new Drake song with Rihanna is dope!

*Be careful! Dope (adjective) = cool; dope (noun) = marijuana (a drug)!

2. Gnarly (adjective)

= awesome, extreme, outstanding, impressive

This is going to be the gnarliest Games yet!

Did you see that double backflip? It was gnarly!

Guys are going to be pulling off some gnarly stuff!

3. Stoked. Amped. (adjectives)

= excited, enthusiastic ready-to-go, fired up, pumped

*also used outside the world of extreme sports

I'm so amped to be at the X-Games.

I'm stoked to be competing in the X-Games this year.

4. A rush. (noun)

= an adrenaline rush (a surge of energy and energy), a high, a thrill

I'm stoked to go snowboarding this weekend. It's such a rush!

What a rush! Let's do that again.

5. To shred. (verb)

= to snowboarding aggressively; 'shredding' is moving the snowboard from one edge of the board to the other down the hill
*also sometimes used to talk about skiing, surfing, skateboarding, or BMX

That girl can shred.

I'd rather be shredding.

As always when using slang, know your audience! These things are OK when you're talking with your friends, but you'll look silly saying 'dope' or 'sick' or 'I'm stoked' in the middle of a business meeting or meeting your boyfriend's parents!

Do you know any slang used to talk about sports?

Pop Culture Explained: What are 'Extreme Sports' and the X-Games?

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:13:00 +0000

For some people, regular sports like skiing, running, and soccer are not exciting enough. These people need adventure. They need more excitement. They need a bigger thrill. They need extreme sports.

What are extreme sports?

Kite-surfing

(Photo by MrClean1982)

Extreme sports are sports that are exciting, different, and a little dangerous! They are sports where people push themselves to go higher, faster, and to do things that other people can't do. They are mostly individual sports and people who enjoy doing these sports tend to be young and fearless! These sports often involve overpowering the environment, (like ice-climbing, sky diving, or kite-surfing).

Freestyle Skiing

(Photo by Cedric)

Sports classified as extreme are always changing. People who enjoy these sports consider themselves part of a subculture: they are not part of the main culture or society. Once a sport becomes part of the main culture, like when it is recognized as an Olympic sport, it's not as extreme anymore.

People who enjoy these sports call them simply action sports.

Urban Snowboarding

(Photo by Jordan Whyte)

These are sports that are dangerous. Athletes can seriously injure themselves if they're not careful. In fact, just a few days ago freestyle skier Sarah Burke died after she fell trying a trick on the superpipe.

A halfpipe

*A superpipe has higher vertical walls.

(Photo by Lee LeFever)

What are the X-Games?

The X-Games are the Olympics of extreme sports! They are held twice a year in the summer and winter, and are put on by the American sports channel ESPN. This year's Winter X-Games take place in Aspen, Colorado. Over 4 days, there are different events in three sports: skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.

The best athletes from around the world are invited to compete. They try to outdo each other with the biggest, highest, fastest, most difficult tricks. A trick is a stunt, an action like a jump, a flip, or a spin. Competitors are give a score for their tricks by a panel of judges. They compete to win medals (gold, silver, and bronze), AND a lot of money! They also try to impress the fans with never-before-seen tricks.

Have you tried any extreme sports? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!

Grammar - Gerunds Used for Sports

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:11:00 +0000

(Photo by Sean Molin)

A gerund is a verb that acts like a noun. When -ing is added to a verb, it becomes a word that describes a person, place, or thing. In the case of sports, a gerund is used to describe the activity.

A gerund is used for sports or activities that people do individually. Sometimes people compete against each other to see who is the fastest or the best, but most people do these sports for fun. Gerunds are not used for team sports (basketball, hockey, etc.), sports where there is a winner or loser (tennis, golf) or some unique activities (gymnastics, martial arts, yoga, etc.).

Like all gerunds, sports can be used as the subject and object of a sentence, as well as the object of a preposition:

Surfing is very relaxing.

I love to go skiing.

Teenage boys spend a lot of time skateboarding.

She's not very good at rollerblading. She falls down a lot.

What's the difference?

I like/love skiing. = I like the activity

I like/love to ski. = I like to do the activity

Since a gerund is formed by adding –ing to the base form of the verb, all of these activities also have a verb form:

ski
surf
skate
snowboard

*The verbs like, love, hate, and try can be followed by both a gerund or an infinitive (to + verb):

I hate/don't like skiing.
I hate/don’t like to ski.

Have you tried skiing?
Have you tried to ride your bike?

*The verbs enjoy, dislike, and go can only be followed by a gerund:

I enjoy skiing.
~~I enjoy to ski.~~

I dislike skiing.
~~I dislike to ski.~~

My friend and I are going hiking this weekend. Do you want to come?
~~My friend and I are going to hiking this weekend.~~

Grammar - Understanding English Verb Forms

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:23:00 +0000

(Photo by calumray)

English verb forms are one of the easiest things to learn. They are so simple! Unlike other languages, there aren't long lists of different conjugations that must be memorized. In English, there are just a few irregular verbs that need to be memorized. Here is a summary of the different verb forms in English.

1. Base/Bare Form

This is the form of the verb you'll find in the dictionary. The base form is used as the base of almost every other verb form.

talk
run
play
sing

The base form is also used to form the infinitive. Simply add 'to':

I want to talk to you.

2. Third-person Singular

For most verbs, you simply add -s (or -es) to the verb:

She says to call her tomorrow.

He finishes work late.

The movie starts at 7 p.m.

There are a handful of verbs that have an irregular 3rd person singular form:

He does karate. (do)

She has a lot of friends. (have)

It is 6:00 p.m. (be)

3. Past Simple Tense

For regular verbs, the past simple is formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb:

I talked to him yesterday.

My mother called me last week.

Be careful! The -ed ending is not always pronounced as a separate syllable. Check your pronunciation of these words.

For irregular verbs, the past simple form needs to be memorized:

I bought a house. (buy)

My dad gave me money. (give)

He spoke to his wife. (speak)

For more past simple verb forms, please read this list.

4. -ing

This is the verb form that confuses a lot of English learners!

A gerund is a verb that acts like a noun. It is formed by adding -ing to the verb:

I love skiing.

Reading is fun.

The present participle is also formed by adding -ing to the verb, but it has different uses than a gerund:

a. The present participle is used in the continuous tenses
I am reading a new book.

b. The present participle can be used as an adjective
That movie was really interesting.

5. Past Participle

There are different forms of the past participle. For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by adding -ed to the verb. It is the same as the past simple form:

I have decided to go back to school.

She cleaned the house.

For some irregular verbs, the past participle is the same as the past simple form:

I found my wallet. (find - past simple)
I have found my wallet. (find - past participle)

I heard the news about Amy. (hear - past simple)
I have heard the news about Amy. (hear - past participle)

Other verbs in this category:

have (had)

say (said)

teach (taught)

tell (tell)

understand (understood)

win (won)

(For an explanation of when to use the past simple and present perfect, see my blog posts on the present perfect.)

For other irregular verbs, the past simple form and the past participle are different:

We have sung that song many times. (sing)

She has chosen a new home. (choose)

Other verbs in this category:

be (was/were, been)

begin (began, begun)

choose (chose, chosen)

drink (drank, drunk)

do (did, done)

eat (ate, eaten)

fly (flew, flown)

get (got, gotten* [American])

give (gave, given)

go (went, gone)

know (knew, known)

ride (rode, ridden)

see (saw, seen)

sing (sang, sung)

speak (spoke, spoken)

swim (swam, swum)

take (took, taken)

wear (wore, worn)

write (wrote, written)

For more past participle forms, please read this list.

There are different uses of the past participle:

a. The past participle is used in the perfect tenses:

He has been to Paris many times.

When I got to the train station, I realized I had forgotten my lunch.

b. The past participle is also used in certain sentence structures like the third conditional:

We would have gone out last night if we hadn't been so tired.

Some past participles can also be used as an adjective:

I am so bored.

He's not interested.

If you struggle with the pronunciation of irregular verbs and their different forms, here is a video that tells you the pronunciation of the base, past simple, and past participle forms of many irregular verbs:

Ten Tips for the TOEFL iBT!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:38:00 +0000

(Photo by Tim Hamilton)

Here is a list of ten things that will help you get the highest score possible on the TOEFL iBT, and fulfill your dream of studying at an English-speaking university.

1. Make sure you understand the TOEFL!

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English proficiency test produced by an American company called ETS. It is a test that measures your English reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills, and your ability to succeed at an English-speaking university.

This is the structure of the TOEFL:

Each section has a score of 30, for a total overall score of 120.

ETS, the company that makes the test, has a useful video introducing you to the resources available on its website:

Resources in this video:

TOEFL Journey

TOEFL Tips

Sample TOEFL questions

2. Be prepared!

You should give yourself 6 months – 1 year to be fully prepared for the test, especially if you have never taken the test before.

When you sit down at the computer to take the test, nothing should be a surprise. You should know every reading question, every listening question, every speaking task, and every writing task on the test. You should know exactly what you have to do to answer every question properly.

You should also know the exact score you need to achieve for each university you want to apply to. (Some schools require just an overall TOEFL score, but some schools require specific scores in each section.) You should exactly what you need to do get the required score.

Do not try to prepare for the test alone. At the very least, you need a textbook:

This is by far the best and most up-to-date textbook available. It thoroughly explains each section of the TOEFL and includes hundreds of practice questions and multiple quizzes. There are also 4 practice tests included in this book. (The CD needed for the listening, speaking and writing sections is also included.)

Even if you use a textbook, it's really important to work with a teacher, either in a course or in private lessons. You need someone to help you with your pronunciation, and to assess how you're doing in the speaking and writing sections. Talk to friends who have taken the TOEFL. Who did they study with? What score did they get? What would they have done differently? Check at a university or college near you. Do they offer a TOEFL course? There are also several TOEFL instructors online. Do you know anyone who has studied with them?

3. Read Everything. Listen to Everything.

I cannot stress this enough. When you are preparing for the TOEFL, it is not good enough to just listen to and read things that you enjoy and are interested in. You need to read widely to build your vocabulary. On the TOEFL you will read passages or listen to lectures on everything from astronomy and American history to psychology and biology!

The TOEFL has teamed up with a company called Lexile to help you find books at your reading level. If you have taken a TOEFL practice test or the actual TOEFL and you know your reading score, you can type in your score and Lexile will suggest books in the topic of your choice at your reading level.

Three excellent resources on the Internet are BBC News, NPR, and VOANews. Many of the articles on the VOA and NPR websites also have .mp3 files, so you can also use the articles as listening lectures.

Here are some resources to get you started:

Business

BBC - business

NPR - business

VOA News - Economy and Business

The Economist

Science, Health, and the Environment:

NPR - Science

BBC - Nature

BBC - Science and Environment

BBC - Health

VOA News - Science and Technology

VOA News - Environment

VOA News - Health

http://www.astronomy.com/

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

Arts, Entertainment, and History:

BBC - Entertainment and Arts

BBC - History

NPR - Arts

VOA News Arts and Entertainment

If you have just started studying for the TOEFL and you are not yet able to read (or listen to) some of the articles above without great difficulty, that’s OK! There are still lots of resources available to you:

ESLPod - This is a great podcast that all English learners should be listening to! The podcasts are dialogues on a variety of topics. In one podcast there is a slow dialogue, a discussion of vocabulary, and a fast dialogue. The transcript is also provided on the website.

VOA Learning English - This section of the website has articles similar to the news section, but they are easier to read and the listening clips are much slower.

Listen a Minute - If you are still struggling with listening or vocabulary, this website will help you build up your skills

Here are some books you may find useful to help you build your vocabulary and improve your reading skills:

This is a great book! The 400 words are divided into 8 themes and 40 lessons. For example, in the 'Money' section, the lessons are: Financial Systems, Wealth and Social Class, Personal Property, Employment, International Trade. There are 10 words in each lesson, and each lesson contains definitions of each word, usage tips, and three exercises using the words.

Oxford English Picture Dictionary

There are many different versions of this book. You can get an English only version ('monolingual), or you may be able to find a 'bilingual' edition (English and your native language). This book is well organized and has great pictures for the 3000+ words included!

The Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries have a great series of advanced '100 Words' books, like ...

100 Words To Make You Sound Smart

100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses and Misuses

100 Words Every High School Freshman Should Know

If you are studying for the TOEFL, and you use some reading and listening resources that I have not mentioned, please tell me about them in the comments below!

4. Learn how to take good notes.

This is an essential skill you will need for the listening, speaking and writing sections of the test – AND a skill you will need later on at an English-speaking university.

In each section where listening is required, you can only listen to the clip ONCE! You cannot go back and listen to it again and again. You will then have to answer questions on what you heard (listening section), speak about what you heard (speaking section), or write an essay based on what you heard (writing section). Therefore you will need to take good notes! People who take good notes get higher scores on the TOEFL.

This is a skill that takes a lot of practice.

Don't try to write down anything and everything you hear. Don't just write down words that you understand. Write down the essential information that you will need to understand the lecture later
Use symbols and shorthand. Everybody develops their own system for this, but here are some suggestions: http://english-zone.com/study/symbols.html
In tip #3 I told you about the resources available on the NPR and VOA websites. Those are great websites to use to practice note-taking as well. When you have finished listening, you can go back and compare your notes to the transcript.
Another great resource you can use to practice listening and note-talking is Ted Talks. These are talks given on wide variety of topics from a wide range of speakers. They last anywhere from a few minutes to 30 minutes.
If NPR, VOA and TED Talks are too long for you, practice note-taking with the shorter clips from Listen a Minute.

When you sit down to take the test, you will get 3 sheets of paper. Every time you put up your hand, the proctors are supposed to give you 3 more sheets of paper, but that doesn't always happen. It may take a while for a proctor to see your hand, if they are paying attention at all. Use your 3 sheets of paper wisely! Don't use all 3 pages on a single lecture or conversation.

5. Make sure your pronunciation is clear.

On the TOEFL, it's OK to speak English with an accent. Your pronunciation doesn't have to be perfect, but you need to speak clearly and be understood.

The speaking section measures three things:

How well you answer the question and complete the task
The grammar and vocabulary you use
How you sound

My blog post 'How to improve your pronunciation' has many more tips on things you can do to sound better. This is one area where it is important to work with a teacher or instructor. You need someone to tell you what you're doing right and what you can do better.

When you are practicing the speaking task on your own, record yourself (most laptops and computers come with recording software). This is important for two reasons:

You can hear yourself speak and evaluate your response
You can get used to speaking to a computer! If you prepare for the test in a classroom or from a book, it may feel a bit strange talking to a computer.

Here are 3 videos from ETS that discuss the different speaking tasks.

Tasks 1 and 2

*Please note: several students have noticed a change in speaking task 1 topic. You may be asked to give advice to someone, which is different from what is discussed in this video. However, all the other information in this video is useful.

Tasks 3 and 5

Tasks 4 and 6

6. Get Used to a QWERTY Keyboard

The final section on the TOEFL is the writing section. You will need to use a QWERTY keyboard to type your responses into the computer. It's called a QWERTY keyboard because the top row of letters starts from the left with the letters QWERTY. LOOK CAREFULLY!

Here's what the TOEFL keyboard looks like:

You should practice as much as possible with a QWERTY keyboard.

Learn Touch Typing

Most people type by using the 'hunt and peck' method: you hunt (look) for the letter you need on the keyboard, and then peck (hit) it with a finger. When you learn touch typing, you will learn how to use all your fingers to to type WITHOUT looking at the keyboard! It's a much faster method of typing, but it takes a lot of practice. Touch typing is not essential for the TOEFL, but it definitely helps you type faster.

Here's a short video that shows you where to put your fingers on the keyboard:

Once you learn the correct placement of your fingers, you can practice typing here:

Powertyping.com

Sense-lang.org

7. Learn how to write an English Essay

As I mentioned in tip #6, the last section of the TOEFL is the writing section. There are two writing tasks. The last task, and the very last thing you will do on the TOEFL, is type a 300-word essay within 30 minutes.

Practice this essay as much as possible!

Learn the traditional form of an English essay
When you start practicing this essay, don't worry about time. Begin by taking as long as necessary to write a good essay.
Once you are able to write a good essay, start timing yourself and getting faster at it, until writing a 300-word essay within 30 minutes doesn't even worry you!

North American writing tends to follow the same form:

Introduction – this introduces your essay, and tells the reader your opinion and what you are going to talk about in your essay
Body – 2-3 paragraphs that support your opinion
One paragraph = one thought; the first sentence of the paragraph explains what the paragraph is about, and the rest of the paragraph uses clear, specific examples to illustrate your opinion
Conclusion - a paragraph that summarizes your essay

If you would like to practice on your own, the ETS website has a list of typical independent essay questions.

Here's a video that explains how to structure your TOEFL independent essay:

(Essay topic: Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would you prefer to live in and why?)

Here's a video from ETS that explains a bit more about the TOEFL independent essay.
*I disagree with one thing in this video: don't write your outline on paper! Type your outline directly into the space where you're going to write your essay. You can build your essay around your outline.

Understanding the traditional English style of writing an essay will help you in almost every section of the TOEFL. If you know that one paragraph = one thought, you can understand the structure of the reading passages better. You will also need to state an opinion and support your opinion with clear, specific examples in the speaking section.

Here are some more points to remember:

Answer the question that's being asked! Don't try to change the question. If it asks you to make a choice, make a clear choice – don't try to argue both positions. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer. Your essay is scored on how well you answer the question.
Type your outline in the essay space on the computer! You waste time if you write it by hand and then type it.
Keep it simple and be specific!

Here is another video from ETS that explains the first writing task, the integrated essay:

8. Practice, practice, practice.

This is the best tip I can give you. Students are always looking for a trick or a secret they can learn to help them do better on the TOEFL. This is it! Once you know the TOEFL inside and out, the only thing that can help you get better at it is to keep practicing it!

In the book I recommended in tip #2, there are 4 practice tests

The same publisher has another book with 6 more practice tests:

(This is the book + audio CDs)

There are 4 practice tests available on the ETS TOEFL website (http://toeflpractice.ets.org/).Do at least one of these tests before you take the TOEFL so you can get used to taking the test on a computer

That is a total of 14 practice tests!

9. Learn how to relax!

You're probably laughing at this tip, but this is very important! A lot of people find this test quite stressful. Let's be honest: it's not an easy test! It is important to remain calm and relaxed throughout the test.

Before the test:

If possible, visit the testing centre ahead of time. Make sure you know where you're going and how long it's going to take you to get there. The last thing you want to do is get lost or stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the test!

Don't try to 'cram' the day before the test. Just relax and rest.

Get a good night's sleep

The day of the test:

Eat a good breakfast!

Before you leave your house and on your way to the test, make sure you warm up your brain! Reading something in English for 30 minutes (something you have read before - no need to stress yourself out before the test!) and listen to English. Make sure your brain is thinking in English before you start the test!

During the test:

Take deep breaths throughout the test. Make sure your breathing is normal.
There is a 10-minute break between the listening and speaking sections. Use this time to use the bathroom if you need to, eat a snack, and do some stretching to relieve the tension in your back and shoulders!

If you miss a question or you feel like you didn't do well in a section. Don't worry about it. Just go onto the next section like it's a new test. This is where being prepared for the test helps. For example, if you know how many questions you need to answer correctly to get your required score in the reading section, then missing one question is not a problem.

Remember, you can always take the test again!

10. Take the test at least twice, if not more.

No one will ever know your TOEFL score unless you tell them. The university you want to attend won't know if you've taken the test once or 10 times. They will only know the score you tell them. Don't worry if you get a low score the first time – no one will ever know but you! You can keep taking the test as many times as you need to.

Students rarely get the score they need on the first try. Taking the TOEFL can be a quite shock the first time you try it:

The test also goes by very, very fast!
Some test centres are very large with lots of people taking the test at the same time. There is a lot of noise and a lot of distractions.
Someone may have started the speaking section while you are still listening. You might be trying to write an essay while the person next to you is doing the speaking section.
You may not be able to get the proctor's attention to get more paper or to get help with your computer

What to expect on test day:

http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/test_day/bring/

http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/test_day/expect/

http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/14235_TOEFL_testmap.pdf

Have you taken the TOEFL? Please share some of your tips in the comments below!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:57:00 +0000

With all my heart, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year! Whatever holiday you celebrate this December, I hope that you have a wonderful time with your family and friends.

I would like to thank all of your for supporting my blog over this past year. I have a feeling 2012 is going to be a really fun year! All the best to you and your family in 2012. May it be your best year ever!

May the last days of 2011 be full of love, joy, happiness and peace!

How are you celebrating the holidays?

New English Word: Glamping

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:35:00 +0000

/’glæm.pɪŋ/

(Photo by Jenni Lloyd)

Every time I turn around, I notice a new English word! In October it was flightmare, and now it's glamping! I first saw this word when I was reading an article about how central Asian-style tents called 'yurts' are becoming more popular.

glamourous = something that is exciting and attractive, (usually associated with wealth)

camping = sleeping outside (on the ground, in a tent, and in a sleeping bag)

Add the two words together and you get glamping!

glamping = glamourous camping; camping in luxury, as comfortably as possible!

Usually camping involves 'roughing it': sleeping outside with only a few necessities to cook with and keep yourself clean, and without the things that make our daily life comfortable.

What happens if you enjoy nature and being outside, but you don't like roughing it? That's OK! Now you can go glamping!

Which do you prefer – camping or glamping?

"The Chaos" (of English Pronunciation)! - A poem by Gerard N. Trenité (video)

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:35:00 +0000

This is a fun poem about the chaos of the English language, but you'll want to pull your hair out in frustration by the end of it! Don't worry about understanding the poem - there is no meaning! It's just a huge collection of ridiculous irregularities in English spelling! Most native speakers would have difficulty pronouncing all these words, so don't worry if you find it difficult.

Here is what the author wrote about this poem in his book:

"In Appendix III I offer the reader a small collection of phonetical paradoxes. I gave it the form of a "poem," so that rhyme and rhythm might have a soothing effect on the bewildered learner, and lead him into the right path, the former in many cases indicating sound, the latter stress. Thus even-Stephen, senator-spectator. The last line contains an advice; my advice is - don't take it."

After you watch the video, tell me in the comments below if you were surprised by the pronunciation of any of the words!

More information about this poem:

The only person who can pronounce this poem perfectly is the author himself. I have tried my best to pronounce each word using American pronunciation. However, this poem was meant to be read with a British accent, so some of the words don't rhyme with an American accent! Also, some of these words are old and are no longer used. I had to do a lot of research to find the correct pronunciation of many of these words. (I learned a lot of new words!) I primarily used the Merriam-Webster dictionary to check my pronunciation. However, there are many words with more than one pronunciation (bade, via, clangour, mauve, plait, wont, aye, topsail, neither, leisure, hygienic, Boleyn, groats, tarry, parry, Gaelic, grimace, hough, does), so I chose the best pronunciation to suit the poem.

There are many different versions of this poem. This poem was first published as an appendix to the book Drop Your Foreign Accent by Gerard Nolst Trenité. It was a book of pronunciation exercises for students learning British pronunciation. The book was first published in 1909. "The Chaos" first appeared in the 1920 edition. With each successive edition of the book, the poem was expanded. The most complete version can be found on the website of The English Spelling Society. That version is 274 lines!

I was able to find the 1932 edition of the book at the Metro Toronto Reference Library (you can see photocopies of it below). This is the version of the poem I chose to read.

Yes, I cut out large parts of the poem. There are a lot of old words and names of places in England that I have never heard and can't pronounce. This poem goes on for 8 pages and almost 250 lines ... people would get bored if I read the whole thing! I kept what I thought were the most interesting parts, and also the parts that were closest to the most famous version of this poem.

Reading - The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:22:00 +0000

I thought you might find it interesting to learn about an important event in Toronto!

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair takes place every fall in Toronto (this year is was Nov. 4-13). This was the 89th year of the fair! There are many things going on during this event, so it's hard to explain exactly what it is - it's kind of like the Olympics of the agricultural world! The harvest in Ontario is over, so this is an important fair for farmers to show what they've been doing during the growing season. There is a competition for everything from animals to vegetables to maple syrup!

Maybe some photos will help!

1. Livestock

Livestock is the term used for farm animals like cows, pigs, horses, sheep, and chickens (these are the main animals kept on farms in Canada). Here are some examples of the competitions:

National Junior Beef Heifer Show - All these kids are members of a 4-H club (a youth organization with a focus on agriculture). A heifer is a young cow. These kids raise and care for these cows by themselves. I have no idea how the judges chose which cow was the best, but this was a big deal for these kids:

Dairy Goat Youth Show Goats traditionally have not been kept as farm animals in Canada. Beef is our main source of meat (followed by chicken, pork and turkey), and our milk and cheese come from cows, but goats are becoming more common (mainly for milk and cheese!). In fact, a new product introduced at this fair was ice cream made from goat milk (which tasted exactly like ice cream from cow milk)!

These were the only two shows on the day I attended, but during the fair there are competitions for pigs, chickens sheep, etc. There was even a prize for the best fleece (the hair from a sheep)!

Butter Sculpting - Yes, butter sculpting! There was a contest for the best butter sculpture! The pig one first place and the apple tree won third place. You can see better pictures here:

2. Giant vegetables!

How big can a pumpkin grow? What about carrots or cabbage? There was a contest for that, too!

There was a lot more I didn't get pictures of! It was a family event, with lots of food, and lots of shopping, too! Part of the fair also includes a horse show and rodeo, but that required a separate ticket. There was also a fun show with the SuperDogs! Here's a video of them I found on YouTube:

Reading - Remembrance Day

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:44:00 +0000

Lest We Forget.

(Beny-Sur-Mer, France)

On Friday, November 11th we will observe Remembrance Day across the country. This is a very special day in Canada. We remember and honour our fallen soldiers, the men and women who were killed in war fighting for Canada.

In almost every town and city across the country there is a war memorial, a statue or monument with the names of the men and women from that town or city who were killed in battle. Across Canada there will be ceremonies at the war memorials, and people will lay wreaths in remembrance. When I was a student, we always attended a Remembrance Day ceremony at school.

Remembrance Day is always on November 11th. This is to remember the official end of World War I. The armistice (the agreement to end the war) was signed with Germany on November 11th, 1918, and the war officially ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. We observe a moment of silence at 11:00am.

(A poppy lapel pin)

The poppy is the Flower of Remembrance in Canada. During WWI, Canadian soliders fought mostly in France and Belgium. In an area of Beligum called Flanders, poppies (a type of flower) grew wild in the fields. The poppy was chosen as a symbol of remembrance because of a well-known poem written by a Canadian soldier:

In Flanders' Fields

written by John McCrae in 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Today, people across Canada wear lapel poppies (pins that can be attached to the front of a jacket). People donate money to the Royal Canadian Legion (the national veterans' group), and in return they are given a lapel poppy to wear.

The fourth verse of the poem For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon is often recited at Remembrance Day ceremonies, and it is sometimes written on the tombstones of fallen soliders. It is now known as the Ode of Remembrance:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Canada Fun Fact #7 – The United States Once Tried to Invade Canada!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:03:00 +0000

The War of 1812 is one of the strangest wars in history. Nothing was gained and nothing was lost, but each side gets to claim they "won."

(Photo by One lucky guy)

Some background information:
In 1812, Britain was at war with France. The United States, which was less than 50 years old, was trading with the French across the Atlantic Ocean. This annoyed the British, so they tried to stop American ships on the way to France. This annoyed the Americans, so they declared war on Britain in June 1812. As part of that war, the U.S. decided to try and hurt the British by invading the British colonies in North America.

The U.S. really tried to invade Canada?
Technically, Canada was not a country in 1812. At that time there were a handful of British colonies in the area that is now Canada. Around the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, there were two colonies called the Canadas: Upper Canada (now the province of Ontario) and Lower Canada (now the province of Quebec). The St. Lawrence River was the only way the British could bring supplies to the Canadas, and to the British military stationed there. If the Americans could hurt this supply route, they could control the Canadas.

(Photo by Samantha Decker)

So, why isn't Canada part of the U.S. now?
There were about 400,000 people living in Upper and Lower Canada. Most of them were actually Americans who had left the US during the Revolutionary War because they were loyal to the British. Others had come north because of the cheap land and low taxes. The U.S. thought that the people in the Canadas would welcome the US military as friends, but that didn't happen! The citizens of the Canadas fought together with the British military and bands of Native Americans against the U.S. military.

The war dragged on for 2 1/2 years and there were small victories for both the British and the Americans. For example, the Americans burned Toronto and the government buildings located there (Toronto was the capital of Upper Canada), so the British burned down the White House in Washington. In the end, the war was a draw. It ended with the signing of the treaty on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) in 1814.

Who won?
The Canadians say they "won" because they fought off the American invasion. The Americans say they "won" because they won a few victories at sea against the mighty British navy (the most powerful navy in the world at that time), and the British say they "won" because they succeeded in temporarily ruining the American economy (by stopping the Americans from trading across the Atlantic).

(Photo by Beverly and Pack)

Interesting historical information:
The United States did not gain any land in Canada, but they did get a new national anthem! Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star-Spangled Banner (the American national anthem) in 1814. He was inspired when he saw the American flag flying above a fort in Maryland that was being attacked by British.

To read more Canada Fun Facts, click here!

Sources:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/10/11/damn-yankees
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/98-187-x/4151287-eng.htm

New English Word: A Flightmare!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:00:00 +0000

(Photo by lrargerich)

New words are always being added to the English language. Recently there's been a trend of making a new word by combining two existing words.

This morning I heard the word flightmare for the first time! I was watching the news on TV, and a reporter used the word to describe a JetBlue (an American airline) flight from Florida to New Jersey. The plane had been forced to land in Connecticut because of bad weather. The passengers were stuck on the plane for 7 hours! They had no food or water, they couldn't use the toilets on the plane AND they weren't allowed to get off the plane! What a flightmare!

A flight – an airplane trip

A nightmare – it usually means a bad dream, but in this context it is a scary, upsetting, or unpleasant experience

'Flight' rhymes with 'night', so add the two words together and you get flightmare!

A flightmare – a nightmare flight; a horrible experience on a plane trip

A 16-hour Flightmare! (New York Post)

Travellers Face Flightmare Thanks to Hurricane Irene (Fox News)

That was such a flightmare! I had to sit next to a crying baby for 7 hours!

Have you ever a flightmare?

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:21:00 +0000

Around my neighbourhood, people have decorated their houses ...

The stores are stocked with candy ...

... and costumes and accessories (can you spot the Edward "vampire" wig?!)...

... all we need now is the trick-or-treaters!

Last year I carved a pumpkin for the first time! (You can read the transcript here.)

Are you interested in learning more about Halloween? You can read about the history of the day here:

On October 31st kids across the country will get dressed up in costumes and go from house to house saying 'trick or treat.' People decorate their houses and give out candy (nobody expects them to play a trick anymore!). Some adults will dress up too and go to Halloween parties (trick-or-treating in only for the young!). It's such a fun community event! This year at my house we're giving out mini-chocolate bars and small bags of potato chips to all the trick-or-treaters.

How did Halloween begin?
Halloween began as the Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced sow-in) celebrated on November 1st, the beginning of their new year...

Are you doing anything for Halloween this year? Do you celebrate Halloween? Or, do you celebrate Day of the Dead, All Saints' Day or All Souls' Day?

Pronunciation: 30 French Words Used in English! (video)

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:38:00 +0000

Have you noticed that some English words don't quite sound English?

Have you noticed some English words with accents?

That's because we stole some French words and made them English words! (We also changed the pronunciation and definitions a bit, too!)

Those of you who have studied history will know that the English language is a mixture of Germanic languages and the French spoken by the Normans (from western France) who conquered England in 1066. However, the words I use in my video are recent additions to English!

(See below for the definitions of these words.)

Here are the 30 words that I say:

ballet - a classical style of dance

bouquet - a group of flowers put together either to display or to carry

boutique - a small store that sells fashionable (and sometimes expensive) clothes and accessories

café - a small, simple restaurant or coffeeshop

chef - a professional cook (who usually works in a restaurant)

coup / coup d’etat - an overthrow (removal) of a government (usually by the military); a seizure of power

coup (another definition) - an achievement that is unexpected and impressive

debacle - a messy defeat or failure

debut - the first appearance or performance of something (a play, a song, a product, etc.), usually in public

décor - the appearance of a room or indoor space; the colour of the walls, the window coverings, the furniture, etc.; the way the room is decorated

déjà vu - already seen; the strange feeling that you have already experienced something that is happening now

encore - an audience calls 'encore' at the end of a performance (a concert, a play, etc.) when they want the performance to continue

en masse - all together, as a group, at the same time

en route - on the way (to somewhere)

entrée - the main course/dish of a meal

entrepreneur - a person who starts their own business

façade - the front of a building

faux pas - an embarrassing mistake, especially socially or in fashion

fiancé(e) - the person you are engaged to / committed to marry; fiancé - male, fiancée - female

genre - a particular style or type of art, movie, book, etc.,

hors d’œuvres - appetizers; small bits of food before a meal or at a party

liaison - a person or organization that helps other people or organizations work together effectively and helps them communicate

matinée - the afternoon performance of a play, or showing of a movie

menu - a list of things you can choose from, for example dishes at a restaurant, choices on a computer

naïve - innocent, simple, too ready to believe someone or something because of a lack of knowledge or experience

petite - used to describe a small, slender woman

potpourri - a nice smelling mixture of dried petals, leaves, and spices; used to make a room or other place smell nice

protégé - a younger person who is taught, helped, by someone older, more knowledgeable, and more experienced

restaurant - a place of business where you can buy and eat a meal

resumé - a written summary of your education, work experience, and achievements; also known as a 'curriculum vitae' (CV)

sauté - a method of cooking; to fry food in a small amount of fat (usually oil)

Vocabulary – How to Talk about Fashion!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:14:00 +0000

Part I - Adjectives

(Photo by jamiedecesare)

In English, we have a lot of great words to describe fashion. If you really want to learn a lot of new and interesting words in English, pay attention to fashion! Fashion writers and designers are always trying to think of unique ways to describe clothing, and magazines are full of colourful phrases and expressions!

This is the first in a 3-part series. In this post, we'll look at adjectives you can use to talk about fashion!

Adjectives You Should Know:

stylish / fashionable
= wearing clothing that is popular now
Karen is so stylish! She must read all the fashion magazines to keep up with the latest trends.

chic
= the same as 'fashionable' or 'stylish,' but it sounds better because it's a French word!
Have you seen Jenny’s chic new coat?

latest
= newest, most recent
Do you have the latest edition of Vogue yet?

in
= popular, fashionable; short for 'in style'
Blue is the in colour right now.
Crocodile bags are very in this season.

hot
= wanted, everybody has to have it
The new Prada boots are so hot all the stores are sold out and there is a waiting list for them!

trendy
= what everyone else is wearing right now; a new, popular style
The internet makes it so easy to find trendy clothes! I really like to see what celebrities are wearing.

must-have
= something you absolutely must have!
The new Prada handbag is this season's must-have accessory!

essential
= necessary, important, you must have it
Elle magazine has a great section on fall's essential boots and bags.

vintage
= old, but high quality and valuable; the item of clothing may have been worn before by someone else.
Ellen was shopping at a thrift store last week and she found an amazing vintage Chanel jacket.

iconic
= famous, memorable, representing a certain time and place
Anna Nicole Smith will be remembered for her iconic Guess ad campaign in the early 1990s.

timeless
= something that is still beautiful no matter how much time passes, no matter what the current trends or styles are
Grace Kelly wore a beautiful, timeless gown on her wedding day. On the other hand, Princess Diana’s wedding dress is NOT timeless – when you see a picture of the dress, you know right away she was married in the 1980s!

classic
= traditional, always fashionable/stylish, popular for a long time
Ralph Lauren has put his unique touch on the classic little black dress.

fave
= informal, slang, short for 'favourite'
Stella McCartney is my fave fashion designer.

Expressions with 'Fruit' and Fruit Names!

noreply@blogger.com (English Teacher Melanie) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:18:00 +0000

(Photo by Christine)

If you have watched my video "34 Fruit Names in English," you know that we have a wide variety of fruit available in our supermarkets here in Canada. In English, we also use names of fruit in a lot of phrases and idioms! Here are some examples:

Comparing apples and / to / with oranges
Apples and oranges are completely different: they look different, they taste different, and they smell different. You can't compare them because they're so different. If you 'compare apples to oranges,' you are comparing two very different things.

I'm a big fan of Twilight, and I prefer Jacob to Edward, but comparing vampires and werewolves is a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

The magazine article compared the performance of stocks to bonds last year, which is comparing apples to oranges.

Note: this expression only works using 'apples' and 'oranges.' In English, it's a fixed expression, so you can't use other fruit names.

The fruits of one's labour
This idiom is used to talk about the result of someone's labour, or someone's work.

My sister spent a long time planning the family reunion, and now that the day is here she can enjoy the fruits of her labour.

Here it is! The fruits of my labour: a new post on 'fruit idioms'!

It is interesting to note that this expression possibly came from the Bible:
Psalm 128:2 (NIV): You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

to cherry pick (verb)
To pick something means to choose or select something from a group; to cherry pick something means to choose or select only the best.

George Clooney is such a successful actor that he can now cherry pick the films he wants to do.

Should doctors be able to cherry-pick patients? (Headline, Globe and Mail newspaper)

Don't cherry-pick NHS findings, minister. (Headline, Guardian newspaper)

Bananas
Not only is it a fruit, but you can also use bananas to mean 'crazy' or 'excited' or 'angry.'

My mom went bananas when she found out I crashed her car. (angry/crazy)

I keep seeing the same commercial over and over again on TV. It's driving me bananas! (crazy)

As soon as Justin Bieber appeared on stage, the crowd went bananas. (excited/crazy)

When life hands you / gives you lemons, make lemonade!
You can't eat a lemon by itself. The taste is horrible. It's very sour. However, you can use lemons to make a sweet drink called lemonade! So, if you experience something bad in life, try to turn it into a positive experience! You can say this expression to someone when you want to encourage or motivate him/her to make the best of a bad situation.

I'm so sorry that you didn't make the football team. You know, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

Do you have any interesting fruit idioms in your language?