Movies for Studying English The Devil Wears Prada # 3

Hello, dear learners!

 We are going to watch and study the third episode from the brilliant movie The devil wears Prada. The previous parts are here  #1, #2.This film has a lot of great ideas for those who do or want to begin doing something.

 English-learners have to do a lot of hard work : memorize new vocabulary, improve their listening skills and pronunciation and so on, again and again. Many of students often complain that they don't have any results. However, let's be honest to yourself: if  you are really doing your best or just pretending you do?

My advice is you shouldn't stop working: only hard work is the way to the success . But what is more, you should be strongly motivated to do what you are doing.

So, let's see and learn.

Useful vocabulary:

Pronunciation: Sound Like a Native Speaker (video)

Hello,dear learners!

If you want to sound like a native speaker, you should watch this video from Rachel's English.

As usual, she gives useful recommendations for learners .So, let's watch and learn!

Grammar. Passive Voice: Present,Past, Future Simple

Hello ,dear learners!

This is the second lesson devoted to the Passive voice. The first one is here.

Today we'll learn the  Passive forms for  Simple.

  As you can see from the table, the main formula of this group is to be + V3(past participle).

NOTES

• Hope, you remember the forms of the verb to be, we studied them here.  
• You should revise the list of the irregular verbs to use the correct V3 forms.

Using Articles :the (video)

Dear Learners!
Let's watch the video and revise the rules of using the definite article the.

Grammar : Passive Voice

Hello, dear learners!

Today we'll start learning Passive Voice.

How to form Passive verbs?

As usual, let's start our lesson with the examining of the table Verbs' Forms : Passive Voice:

Let's Improve Our Pronunciation :TO BE Contractions (video)

This is one more superb video from Rachel's English!

Reading for Pleasure The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Dear readers!
I want to discuss with you one of my favourite English- language books. It is The Thorn Birds written by Colleen McCullough .I recommended it last year. And today I wonder if you have  read it ,and if you liked it?

 I'd like to post some extracts from this novel. The pictures are not the illustration to this love story, but to my mind, they reflect the atmosphere of the story. So, let's enjoy the beautiful pieces of painting and the wonderful words from the novel!

Painter: Emile Vernon

Father Ralph stretched out in his favorite chair, staring at the fire, smoking a cigarette and smiling.

…Meggie. The sweetest, the most adorable little girl he had ever seen; hair of a color which defied description, not red and not gold, a perfect fusion of both. And looking up at him with silver-grey eyes of such a lambent purity, like melted jewels.

Shrugging, he threw the cigarette stub into the fire and got to his feet. He was getting fanciful in his old age; melted jewels, indeed!

  

English Level Test

Hello, dear learners!

Do you know your English level?

If you don't, you can  visit this site, take

  a test  and get your result. It's free!

Idioms for Expressing Emotions (video)

Dear learners!

Today I'd like to recommend you this useful video. There are some interesting idioms for expressing one's emotions are presented in it  . So, let's learn and enjoy!

English Poetry for Studying Language : Hair Colours by Roann Mendriq

Hello,dear readers!

Today we'll enjoy reading the humorous poem Hair Colours by Roann Mendriq
What is your favourite hair colour? Have you ever dyed it? Why did you do this : to hide your age or to be fashionable? In this witty poem the author answers these questions.

                                                         

 So, let's read, learn and enjoy!

Today’s trendy women Like highlights in their hair, Of hues that range from Burgundy to Honey blonde, they dare.

Famous Quotes about Teaching

You may also like this

Let's Improve Our Pronunciation : Salute (Little Mix)

Hello, dear learners!

Today we'll listen to one more   interesting song !
As I told you before, summer is the best time to work on your vocabulary and pronunciation through singing songs.

The song I'd like us to practise now has been ranked #6 this week in The Top 10 UK Singles Chart. It is Salute (Little Mix)

As for me , this song may be used as a tongue-twister for working on clearness and quickness of your pronunciation, increasing the speed of your speech, and enjoying studying English, because the tune is really catchy and lively.

What is more, there are some useful words you should memorise and use :

Using Flash Cards at the English Lessons

I’m sure that flash cards are the essential tool of  the English lessons.  They really help us to teach and revise  new vocabulary.

As you know, a simple repeating the words is a boring way of teaching, especially for the youngest pupils, so we need new ways of working with flash cards. Here I’d like to give you some hints about effective using of   flash cards at the lessons.

These are two unusual ways of showing flash cards:

Famous Quotes about Teaching

WIZIQ Course :Teachers Teaching Online

This course  is on WIZIQ
http://www.wiziq.com/course/62410-teachers-teaching-online

Course Description

Teachers Teaching Online will show you how to succeed as an online teacher. Whether you are looking to get started or wish to sharpen your skills, TTO is for you!
We began on June 15 but you can join us anytime and work at your own pace.
Click here to see the class schedule.
In this course, Jason R. Levine introduces you to a variety of online teaching experts, all of whom possess exceptional talent for engaging learners. Each live session consists of a different expert demonstrating their skills and sharing knowledge of their experience.
List of Presenters:

Good Morning!

Let's watch & learn :The Devil Wears Prada #2. At the Interview

 Hello,der learners!

Today we're going to see the second scene from the amazing movie The Devil Wears Prada. The first one is here . The second episode can be named The Interview.

This is an example of official dialog:there are no idioms, beautiful phrases,  we can clearly hear each word, the sentences are not too long. The aim of an interviewee ( an interviewed person) is to describe himself in a better way and make a good impression, isn't it?

Lesson Plans: The Seasons of the Year

The  aims of this party are:

-       to revise “Seasons and weather” words;

-       to teach new words related to this topic;

-       to train pupils to communicate fluently and effectively;

-       to make learning English more enjoyable;

-       to teach pupils to take care of nature.

There are a lot of poems, an short play (as far as youknow ,I like dramatising),and songs. You can also use more  poems and songs. 

How to Talk about Movies

Hello, dear learners!

Do you like watching movies? What type of films do you prefer? Do you know how to tell about the film you have seen? 

This video will help you to talk about your favourite films. I think, it's really useful!

Read & Speak : Summer Morning

 Hello, dear readers!

Good morning! It's really a beautiful summer morning outside!

 The Sun, a king of summer days,is  pouring down his rays in the clear blue sky. Fragrant bright flowers have already woken. A lot of  bees are humming over them. The drops of pearl dew are shining in the emerald grass. High in the tree-tops sweet bird songs are ringing.
Oh, new summer day! Hope, it'll be happy !

Today I'd like to show you how  we can use poetry for developing our English!  

Will you read these poems and try to describe the summer morning , using the word and phrases from them

Let's listen and learn :The Devil Wears Prada #1

Hello,dear learners!
Today I'd like we to start improving your listening skills using the great resource of cinema. I'm sure everyone has the experience of watching English-language films, but sometimes the learners find them very difficult to understand.

At this lesson I want to use the episode from the awesome film The Devil Wears Prada. I don't have a long list of films for studying , but this one is #1 ! The actors, clear English pronunciation, the different situations -everything helps to learn English!

I'm sure you 've heard about the  rhythm of English, and that it is alike the music, but this is an example of conversational "flat" English. In this short episode you'll find some phrasal verbs,an abbreviation,an idiom,some interesting adjectives and the example of specific humour :lovely,slender female paratrooper

Now, you are  able to become an actor/ actress: turn off the sound and say the words like Meryl Streep:

Teaching English through Dramatizing

Summer has come and many of our kids are at summer camps. It is a great chance to practise English in a creative and relaxing atmosphere.

Certainly, I'd recommend you to use songs and poems about everything the kids can see in summer( we have no time to learn summer vocabulary when we are at school): flower , birds, berries and fruit, summer games and attractions .

Happy Rose Day!

Grammar Exercise : Check Yourself # 3

Hello,dear learners! 

Today I 'd like you to do a new grammar exercise.  Let's revise the verb tenses again.

Have you done the exercises #1 and #2 ?

She (to sing) well. She usually (to sing ) at the school concerts. She (to sing ) two new songs at the last concert. Look! She (to sing ) now. She   already (to sing) her new songs? – Not yet. When I (to see) her yesterday she (to sing ) that nice song. She (to be going)  (to sing) English songs at the concert next week. 

Check yourself here

Let's Develop Our Listening Skills :Pharrell Williams' speach (video)

Pharrell Williams , a famous American musician, singer, rapper, record producer, and fashion  designer , visited the school he studied at, and had a meeting with the students at which he talked to them, encouraging  to do their best at school to get their dreams in future. 

This video is worth watching in two reasons. Firstly, it has a great impact on the listeners and encourages  them to study better and harder. And secondly, we can  hear the everyday American English. So, it is a great chance to improve our listening skills.

Note: the video has subtitles, so let’s see and learn !

Speak English : Making Acception,Declining Invitation (video)

This is one more interesting video for developing our speaking skills. It is great as usual!
 So, let's see and learn!

The Fame of English Literature : Barnabe Googe

 Hello,dear readers!

Today we'll read the superb poem about love. 

Let's imagin, it was written over 400 years ago!!!

But then people lived and loved   as we do it nowadays, and  they could express their emotions clearly and freely as well.

The author  name is Barnabe Googe or Goche (11 June 1540 – 7 February 1594) (also spelled Barnaby Googe) . He was a poet and translator, one of the earliest English pastoral poets.

So, it's time to read and enjoy the poem!

 

 

Grammar : used to / be used to / get used to (+ video)

Hello, dear learners!

Today we have got one more lesson devoted to the phrase used to. We have already learnt some rules of using and making of used to . Please, revise them here. 

As you can see, used to + infinitive  can be used for past habits or states. In this case this expression can be replaced by the past simple form with no difference in meaning.


When I was a child, we played active games outside .
When I was a child,we used to play active games outside.

Two Birthdays of the Queen

The Queen turns 88 today (Picture: Sang Tan/AP)

Hello, dear readers!
Today I'd like to ask you, if you have known that the Queen of the UK celebrates her birthday twice a year?

Why?

Her Majesty The Queen Elisabeth II was born on 21 April 1926. And on this day 2014 she got a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London! It was her 88 birthday!

But the official Queen's Birthday is on a Saturday in June. This year it'll be marked on the 14th of June.

You know, that the UK is the country of traditions, and this is one of them. Since 1748 the British monarch have had two birthdays if they don't have the actual one in summer. It is considered that the summer time is the best time for the Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour.

So, if you are in London on the 14 of June, you'll see the colourful parade. If you'll see. please, tell us about it!

English Reading for Kids: the Sun (+ video )

Kids poems about the sun.

Hello,dear readers!

Today I want us to read some poems about

 the Sun.

Summer, Songs and the Sun - all these words begin with S and mean the same: happiness!

These easy and funny poems can be used by primary school teachers for summer parties (more  resources you can find here and here), or just for teaching little kids in your family circle.

Here they are:

YouTube channels for improving our English skills

Hello,dear learners!

Today I'd like to recommend you a very useful YouTube channel
Learn English with Let's Talk - Free English Lessons .

Here you can find 400 videos for developing your English skills.
The teacher's speech is very fast, so these videos are not for beginners. On the other hand, they are very useful as a listening exercises.

Let's see the last video from this channel!It is about sounds which people produce in their everyday life,

Summer English- Studying Strategy

 Summer has come, we had been waiting it for a long time and now  everyone is happy. This time is considered to be for rest. From our school time we have loved the words summer holidays with all our heart, haven’t we?

This time is for changing the usual rhythm of our life and meeting  new challenges. But, don’t you forget that you are studying English?

You have been working hard for….. months.  Someone may think at last it’s time to stop and have a rest. My dear learners, your hard work  certainly  must be prized !However, you shouldn't stop learning: you should change the methods of studying.

These are my recommendations:

It's time to improve our English pronunciation !

Hello,dear learners!

It's extremely important to have a good pronunciation to speak  clear and confident , isn't it? But English phonetics is so different from other languages. So, we have to do exercises for our mouth to help it to move correctly.

I'm sure this video will be a great help for those who want to improve their pronunciation. So, let's watch and practise!

Present Simple . Adverbs of Frequency.

Present Simple. Adverbs of Frequency

Hello,dear learners!
As usual,  I'd like we to start the grammar lesson with the revising the table of verb tenses.
We have already learnt Present Simple tense here and here, but today I'd like to give you more information about the position of adverbs of frequency in the sentences.

So, let's learn the main rules:

• Adverbs of frequency ( always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom/rerely, never , etc) are should be put before the main verb ( play, go, copy,etc) but after the verb to be, auxillary verbs ( do, did, have) or modal verbs ( can, must,should) 

He usually gets good marks at the English lessons .
I am always happy to write for you, my dear readers!
They can sometimes fly to London.

• Adverbs of frequency go before the auxillary verbs in short answers .

-Do you  read love stories?
-Yes, I sometimes do.

• We should put expressions such as  every day, twice a week, most monings, etc at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. Such words as usually,often, sometimes,normally,occasionally can be used at the beginning or at the end of the sentence for more emphasis.

Nick learns new English phrases every day.
Usually, he begins his online lessons at 5 pm.
 

• The adverbs never, seldom, rerely have a negative meaning and are never used with the word not.

They never see horror films.
She rarely meets her school friends.

The time of summer holidays (song +video)

Today I said Goodbye to my beloved pupils. 

The time of summer holidays is so desirable nd long-waiting for them.

We worked hard and now we need some rest.

In August I'll see them again, and they 'll be older, wiser, and nicer. They'll be almost 17.

I love them . 

This Goodbye song is for all  teachers and their students.

At the library (a lesson plan + video)

You should present the theme of the lesson  reading the poem by Varda One :

It's only a room with shelves and books, but it's far more magical than it looks It's a jet on which I soar to lands that exist no more. Or a key with which I find answers to questions crowding my mind. Building my habit of learning and growing, asking and researching till I reach knowing. It's only a room with shelves and books, but it's far more magical than it looks.

Learn English with Let's Talk - Free English Lessons Learn English with Let's Talk

Visit this channel and learn more  new phrases! It's really worth seeing!

Songs for learning English Hooray! by Boney M

Today we'll travel back to the PAST with the incredible group Boney M.

This song is like a sun beam in a nasty day, it's full of romantic and real pictures of a happy life!
Here you'll find some interesting and useful words and phrases, so don't ignore the vocabulary section!
So, let's listen, sing and learn!

Phrasal verbs vs Formal verbs (+ video)

Hello,dear learners!

 Today the topic for discussion is phrasal verbs. How many of them have you learnt yet? And how many of them are there in English language? How much time do we need to memorise all of them? And is it possible? Why are there phrasal verbs and formal ones in English ?

Hope, this useful didactic video will give you answers to some of these questions. And to addition to this, you'll listen to the exemplary British pronunciation of the teacher who lives in London. And one more bonus you'll have: the knowledge from the history of Britain and English language.

So, let's learn, listen, enjoy!

Difficulties of English spelling (+ poem)

Hello,dear readers!

How is your English studying?  Do you think English is a difficul- to-learn language? As you know, we often see the same letters, but ,to our surprise, we should read them in different ways: cut - put, read - read (past) girl -imagine, etc.  But English has  also got so- called silent letters, the letters which we can see, but mustn't say . You surely can name a lot of such words, here are some of them: night, ball,sea,although, autumn . For  beginners these words are the real problem! We know that this is the remindings  of the historical process in the  language, however, it doesn't make the process of studying English esier.

Reading for learning English "One art" by Elizabeth Bishop (+ video)

What do you think about the poem you've just heard? 

I'm sure you were charmed with it !

Summer-winter quote

Studying English vs Speaking English ( + video)

Hello, dear readers!

Let's discuss the difference between studying English and speaking English.

No doubt, a lot of my readers think that the biggest problem for foreign learners is to transform himself from a student into a fluent speaker.

I consider, the students should start learning language from listening and speaking. This is a natural way the kids learn their native language, isn't it?

It's better to listen to authentic video and audio tracks. They include not only new vocabulary with good pronunciation. The student can catch the specific tune of language, its intonations, pay attention to the correct pronunciation of words and phrases and he also can learn the gesticulation and face expressions common for this folk.

Sound like a native speaker (video)

Grammar exercise ( Tenses ) 2

Hello,dear learners!

Today  we'll continue to check our grammar skills.
 This exercise is more difficult than the previous one.

This is one more extract from Mary Poppins 

by P. L. Travers.You should put the verbs in brackits  into the right forms.

Note : We use past tenses for narration