The English You Need Blog - for EFL students

Fears

2009-06-23T12:06:00.003-03:00

Activities before watching the video:

Mention words connected to being afraid
How do you express fear?
What is a phobia?

Watch the video and check your answers.

Visit Exam Photo Album.

Picture 10

Picture 14

Picture 3

Happiness

2009-05-24T22:33:00.005-03:00

What is happiness? Happiness can mean different things to different people. What brings happiness to one person, can be meaningless to another since it is connected to our own beliefs, dreams and values.

Look at these pictures. Why are they happy?

Watch this video. People from different parts of the world speak about their own idea of happiness.

What makes you happy?

Albert Schweitzer ,a German-French philosopher who received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize, said: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Do you agree?

H.H. the Dalai Lama said: “The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.” Can you feel happy in a hostile atmosphere?

Does money bring happiness? Why (not)?

What was the happiest moment of your life?

Reading:

Happiness Lengthens Life

ScienceDaily (Aug. 5, 2008) — Happiness does not heal, but happiness protects against falling ill. As a result, happy people live longer...
Read the complete article here.

Photos: From prawnpie , maireading

Making a Complaint

2009-05-14T10:32:00.000-03:00

Simple Present

2009-05-10T11:00:00.001-03:00

Describe Vinces Day

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

Superstition

2009-05-03T10:21:00.001-03:00

Also read Superstitions in The English You Need Blog

English Idioms - Eyes

2009-04-20T10:00:00.001-03:00

Picture 15 (Intermediate)

2009-04-17T19:48:00.004-03:00

What do you use the computer for?
How often do you use the Internet?
Can the internet help you learn English? How?
Do you think our lives have been improved by the Internet?
Do you use the Internet for education or for fun?
Is it dangerous to meet people on the Internet?
Buying and selling things on the Internet has become very popular. Do you go to a shop or do you buy online? Why?
Computers have affected every aspect of our day-to-day life. Do you agree?
What are the advantages of computer and the Internet?
What are the disadvantages of computer and the Internet?

Photo by arneheijenga

Picture 14 (Intermediate)

2009-04-17T19:02:00.002-03:00

Describe the house.
What kind of people do you think live or have lived in this spooky house?
Describe what you think it looks like inside.
Do you think the house could be haunted?
Would you like to live in it? Why / why not?

Photo by Tufiakwa!

Comparatives and Superlatives

2009-04-11T09:46:00.000-03:00

Next Time I Fall in Love - Peter Cetera & Amy Grant

2009-03-05T08:04:00.006-02:00

Peter Cetera, the American singer, songwriter and bass guitar player, was born on September 13th, 1944. He was a member of the rock band Chicago. After leaving the band, Cetera launched his solo career and achieved great success. I’m sure you’ll remember his first single, "Glory of Love" (the theme to the movie The Karate Kid, Part II), which was a US No. 1 hit in 1986.

In Yappr.com you will find the song “Next Time I Fall in Love”, which was recorded as a duet by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant. In December 1986, it reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. This song remained in that position for one week and it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
Click on the picture and enjoy it.

Yappr.com

English Idioms - Tea

2009-03-03T11:03:00.001-02:00

Giving Directions

2009-03-01T09:31:00.000-02:00

English Idioms - Fish

2009-02-23T10:59:00.000-02:00

The Present Perfect

2009-02-10T12:37:00.002-02:00

Do these exercises:

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/presentperfect1.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/confusing_words/since_for2.htm

English Idioms - Horse

2009-02-05T10:58:00.000-02:00

Elizabeth Gaskell

2009-02-02T12:05:00.000-02:00

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (1810 - 1865) was an English novelist and short story writer during the Victorian era. Gaskell was born Elizabeth Stevenson on 29 September 1810, at 93 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. She was the eighth child of William Stevenson and his wife, Elizabeth. In 1832, she married William Gaskell, the minister at Cross Street Unitarian Chapel. They settled in Manchester and had several children: a stillborn daughter in 1833, followed by Marianne (1834), Margaret Emily (1837), Florence Elizabeth (1842), William (1844-1845), and Julia Bradford (1846). They lived in a villa in Plymouth Grove, Manchester.

Gaskell wrote lots of short stories and novels. Her best known novels are: Mary Barton (1848), Cranford (1853), North and South (1854), and Wives and Daughters (1865). She became popular for her writing, especially her ghost story writing, aided by her friend Charles Dickens. Gaskell also wrote the first biography of Charlotte Brontë.

For more information visit The Gaskell Web

You can read Mrs Gaskell’s novels and stories at Project Gutenberg

Visit LibriVox ,which is a digital library of free public domain audiobooks, read by volunteers.

Watch some BBC trailers:

Wives and Daughters (1999)

North and South (2004)

Cranford (2007)

Requests - Commands - Instructions - Directions

2009-01-20T09:20:00.000-02:00

English Idioms - Head

2009-01-17T08:56:00.000-02:00

Hilary Duff

2009-01-15T12:39:00.005-02:00

Hilary Duff was born in Texas on September 28, 1987. She is an actress, singer and songwriter. In her childhood, she worked in local theater plays and TV commercials. Duff became famous for playing the title role in the TV series Lizzie McGuire. Then, she started a film career; her most successful films include Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), and A Cinderella Story (2004). As a pop singer she has sold over thirteen million albums worldwide.

Visit Yappr.com and watch a video where Ellen Degeneres interviews Hilary Duff.

Remember that at Yappr.com you can practise and learn with entertaining videos.

For more information about Hilary Duff, visit her official website

Book Lovers

2009-01-14T08:16:00.006-02:00

Reading can be a pleasure like no other, especially when you discover a fantastic author. Besides, it is one of the best ways to improve your English. Try to become a bookworm!

Have a look at the following sites where you can find free online short stories.

Classic Reader
Richmond Review
Bibliomania
The Online English Library

MysteryNet.com

The Learn English Online Network offers online books, stories and poems. There is a dictionary look-up facility so you can double click on a word to see its definition.

Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. It was founded in 1971 by Michael Hart.

LibriVox provides free audiobooks from the public domain. The books are read by volunteers.

English Idioms - Insects

2009-01-09T10:56:00.000-02:00

English Idioms - Dog

2009-01-03T10:55:00.000-02:00

How to Improve your English

2009-01-02T09:47:00.000-02:00

Picture 13 (Intermediate)

2009-01-01T09:15:00.002-02:00

Look at the pictures and describe them.

Which natural disaster do you think is the most frightening? Why?

What's the worst storm you've ever been in? Where were you? What were you doing when the storm hit? Did the storm cause any damage? Talk about your experience.

What natural disaster has your country experienced? What happened?

From FloraG
From jmreymond
From stocky

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

2008-12-28T14:20:00.001-02:00

Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: history wonders)

Enjoy this virtual satellite tour!