How to improve your English

How to improve your speaking skills

Keep your English alive this summer

Now our school year is over we have to start thinking of how to keep our English alive.

1. If you have failed, you should follow the directions given in class and write to your teacher if you need.
2. If you have passed English this year there are many ways of keeping it alive without having to study grammar or read thick books during the summer. These are some of the  things you can do:

• Listen to songs in English, read the lyrics and maybe even sing along. There are many websites where you can find the lyrics of your favourite songs in English.
• Watch our favourite TV programmes and films in English and even read the subtitles in English. this is a good option if we can't grasp much of what is being said.
• Watch YouTube videos in English with subtitles also in English.
• There is an interesting website where you can find short audio files to practise your English, audio-lingua.eu. Just choose levels A1 or A2.
• Read the news in English. Many newspapers have an interesting and easy to read website if we are learning English: USA Today, BBC English, Time, Newsweek, New York Times, etc. or choose a specific newspaper for English language learners, such as News in Levels.
• If you want to do some practice work without really studying you can go to the British Council website:
• Listening audios about different topics. You can do the tasks after listening and you can also read the scripts.
• Reading texts about a variety of topics. They are classified according to their level of difficulty: A2, B1, B2, etc. At the end of each story there are some tasks and you can also get a downloadable version.
• Vocabulary, you can read about some topics and then do some vocabulary activities.
• And there are also other sections you might have a look at: grammar, writing, videos...
• Try Duolingo to learn English or any other language on your own.
• And finally, just pay attention of whatever you see around. There are lots of notices, instruction booklets, etc. in English and you can certainly understand more than you problably think.

8 sites to improve your oral skills

If you want to improve your listening skills, here are some sites that will help you in the process:

1. YouTube. This popular site will let you choose videos of any genre and about any topic you may be interested in: tutorials, movies, documentaries, movies, etc. If you can understand most of what is being said, no problem, you may slow the video down to make it easier to understand or check the most difficult words. If your level is lower and you need subtitles, you can either choose videos with subtitles or add your own using this YouTube tool.
   
2. Speech Notes is a speech recognition text editor. You can read or tell your own texts for the
   
   computer to convert them into text. It will let you know when your speech is easy or difficult to understand.
   
3. Natural Readers is a complementary service. You can write or paste any text that will be read aloud to you with the accent and voice you choose. This will let you know how to read or pronounce some difficult words or expressions.
   
4. British Council Listening Skills Practice. This site has a good number of videos and audios with a number of activities to follow. The texts have been designed for students of English and are quite easy for a foreign student.
   
5. Lyricstraining is the best site for those who love music. There are lots of different activities at different levels about the latest songs. First you select your level (beginner, intermediate, advanced or expert) and then you choose the song you are going to complete the lyrics of. The higher your level, the more words that are missing and you will have to supply.
   
6. Podcasts in English has a large number of podcasts at different levels and about different topics. Although the worksheets and other extras are only for subscribers, you can find many interesting audio files about a lot of topics.
   
7. Audio Lingua is also a site for podcasts. You can find them in a number of languages and you can search them by your level (A1-A2-B1-B2-C1-C2), language, key word, and length. You can even download the podcasts. You can submit podcasts for other learners of your own language. If you have a website or blog, these podcasts can be embbed in it.
   
8. BBC Learning English. This popular site has a good number of interesting features and sections. My recommendation is 6-Minute English, a series that contains short audio files about hot topics. You can listen to the podcasts and the site also contains the transcripts and the key vocabulary you will hear.
   

Informal and formal letters

Writing an essay

Describing people

Reading Comprehension text: Liberland

You are going to read a text about Liberland. Try to find out:

• Where it is
• What it is
• Why it was founded
• How long it has existed

TEXT 

(taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberland)

Liberland, officially the Free Republic of Liberland (Czech: Svobodná republika Liberland) is an uninternationally recognized country situated on an unclaimed parcel of land at the western bank of the Danube river between Croatia and Serbia, sharing a land border with the latter. It was proclaimed on 13 April 2015 by Vít Jedlička.

The official website of Liberland states that the nation could be created due to the ongoing Croatia–Serbia border dispute. Since the Yugoslav Wars, some borderland territories have been disputed, such as the Island of Vukovar and the Island of Šarengrad; however, this area (also known as Gornja Siga) has remained unclaimed.

HISTORY

As described by Jedlička, neither Serbia, Croatia or any other nation claims the land as their own (terra nullius). The border is defined in accordance with both Croatian and Serbian border claims and does not interfere with any other state sovereignty. Jedlička has stated that an official diplomatic note shall be sent to both Croatia and Serbia, and later to all other states, with a formal request for international recognition.

Vít Jedlička is a member of the Czech Party of Free Citizens, which bases its values on the classical liberal ideology. The flag raising on Liberland was performed by Jedlička and some of his associates at the day the republic was proclaimed.

In an interview with Parlamentní listy (cz), Jedlička said that he has received positive reactions for his initiative, mainly from his own party, but also from some members of the Civic Democratic Party and the Pirate Party.

STRUCTURE

Liberpolis - picture from Wikipedia

Administration

A government with "ten to twenty members" has been suggested for the administration of Liberland. An electronic voting system will be used to elect members.

Borders and immigration

Liberland will operate on an open-border policy.

Citizenship

The official motto of Liberland is "To live and let live". The goal of the state is to create a society where righteous people can prosper without inefficient state regulations and taxes. The founders are inspired by countries like Monaco and Liechtenstein. Jedlička accepts requests for citizenship, and according to the official website, only communists, neonazis, and other extremists are ineligible for citizenship.

Constitution

At the time of the founding of Liberland, the constitution was still in the planning stage, although it has been described as inspired by Switzerland.

Economy

There are plans for an official cryptocurrency system, although all other currencies will be allowed.

The politicians will be constitutionally forbidden from indebting the nation.

HOW TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF LIBERLAND (from http://liberland.org/en/about/)

Do you want to become a citizen of Liberland? Liberland is currently accepting applications for citizenship, which will be processed in due time.

Who is needed in Liberland?

Liberland currently needs people who:

have respect for other people and respect the opinions of others, regardless of their race, ethnicity, orientation, or religion

have respect for private ownership which is untouchable

do not have communist, nazi or other extremist past

were not punished for past criminal offences

How to apply?

Online form will be available in next few hours. For now you can register HERE on this site. You will be noticed by e-mailem, when the form is ready.

QUESTIONS:

1. Why does the wikipedia article start with: This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedia's deletion policy?
2. What is different from any other country?
3. In your opinion, what will happen to this country in the future?
4. If you want to become a citizen of Liberland, what should you do?

READ MORE:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberland
• http://liberland.org/en/about/
• http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-32332473

Keep your English alive in summer

Now our school year is over we have to start thinking of how to keep our English alive.

1. If you have failed, you should follow the directions given in class and write to your teacher if you need.
2. If you have passed English this year there are many ways of keeping it alive without having to study grammar or read thick books during the summer. These are some of the  things you can do:

• Listen to songs in English, read the lyric and maybe even sing along. There are many websites where you can find the lyrics of your favourite songs in English.
• Watch our favourite TV programmes and films in English and even read the subtitles in English. this is a good option if we can't grasp much of what is being said.
• There is an interesting website where you can find short audio files to practise your English, audio-lingua.eu. Just choose levels A1 or A2.
• Read the news in English. Many newspapers have an interesting and easy to read website if we are learning English: USA Today, BBC English, Time, Newsweek, New York Times, etc. or choose a specific newspaper for English language learners, such as News in Levels.
• It's also a good occasion to have a look at the materials we've been making this year for our eTwinning project, The Voice of Europe.
• And finally, just pay attention of whatever you see around. There are lots of notices, instruction booklets, etc. in English and you can certainly understand more than you problably think.

Reading Comprehension exercise: Back Together

Read the text and answer the following questions:

Back Together

Tamara Rabi had no idea Adriana Scott existed until students at a university in Long Island began confusing her with the other girl. The girls were born in Mexico and then adopted by different sets of parents in the US. Tamara grew up with Jewish parents on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Adriana was raised a Catholic in a Long Island suburb of the city. But each girl had no idea she had a twin until Tamara moved to Long Island.  

In 2003 a friend of Adriana's turned up at Tamara's 20th birthday party and could not believe his eyes. Tamara had already noticed how some people on her university campus smiled and said hello, clearly mistaking her for somebody else.

In 2004 they decided to meet so Tamara contacted Adriana by email and soon afterwards they met in a car park. "I didn't know what to say, except hi. I was just in shock to see myself", says Adriana. The funny thing is that they grew up just 20 miles apart.

“We have the same mannerisms, the same interests, the same grades in school," Adriana says.

"We had the same dream when we were younger. It was a nightmare... A really loud noise, followed by a real quiet one," adds Tamara.

Adriana's mother was the only family member on either side who knew she had a twin, but she had no idea where she might be. After agonising over it, she kept it secret to avoid the pain of a possibly fruitless search - a judgement which Adriana agrees with.

"In some ways it's the best of both worlds, as I have a sister but I haven't grown up in a state of sibling rivalry," she says.  

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3343763.stm

1. True or false:
• In 2004, Tamara met Adriana.
• Tamara met Adriana at a party.
• Tamara and Adriana are similar.
• Adriana knew she had a twin even before she met Tamara.
• The two girls grew up in different countries.
• They want to be rivals.
2. Answer the following questions:
• Why did people at university stare at them?
• How did Tamara contact Adriana?
• How are Tamara and Adriana similar? Give two examples.
• Why didn't Adriana's mother tell her about her sister?
• How do the girls feel about each other today?
3. Key to this exercise

Nelson Mandela - Reading comprehension activity

Read the text and find the following information about Mandela:

• Where was he born?
• How old was he when he died?
• How long did he stay in prison?
• What important prize was he awarded?

Look up the following words or expressions:

• apartheid:
• involved:
• life imprisonment:

Write a short text saying why Nelson Mandela became such an important reference worldwide and send it to your teacher.

Nelson Mandela (text fromhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/nelson_mandela)

Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on 18 July 1918 and was given the name of Nelson by one of his teachers. His father Henry was a respected advisor to the Thembu royal family.

ANC involvement

Mandela was educated at the University of Fort Hare and later at the University of Witwatersrand, qualifying in law in 1942. He became increasingly involved with the African National Congress (ANC), a multi-racial nationalist movement trying to bring about political change in South Africa.

In 1948, the National Party came to power and began to implement a policy of 'apartheid', or forced segregation on the basis of race. The ANC staged a campaign of passive resistance against apartheid laws.

In 1952, Mandela became one of the ANC's deputy presidents. By the late 1950s, faced with increasing government discrimination, Mandela, his friend Oliver Tambo and others began to move the ANC in a more radical direction. In 1956, Mandela went on trial for treason. The court case lasted five years, and ended with Mandela being acquitted.

Sharpeville

In March 1960, 69 black anti-apartheid demonstrators were killed by police at Sharpeville. The government declared a state of emergency and banned the ANC. In response, the organisation abandoned its policy of non-violence and Mandela helped establish the ANC's military wing 'Umkhonto we Sizwe' or 'The Spear of the Nation'. He was appointed its commander-in-chief and travelled abroad to receive military training and to find support for the ANC.

Life imprisonment

On his return he was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. In 1963, Mandela and other ANC leaders were tried for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. The following year Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was held in Robben Island prison, off the coast of Cape Town, and later in Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland. During his years in prison he became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid.

In 1990, the South African government responded to internal and international pressure and released Mandela, at the same time lifting the ban against the ANC. In 1991 Mandela became the ANC's leader.

A respected global statesman

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with FW de Klerk, then president of South Africa, in 1993. The following year South Africa held its first multi-racial election and Mandela was elected its first black president.

In 1998, he was married for the third time to Graça Machel, the widow of the president of Mozambique. Mandela's second wife, Winnie, whom he married in 1958 and divorced in 1996, remains a controversial anti-apartheid activist.

In 1997 he stepped down as ANC leader and in 1999 his presidency of South Africa came to an end.

In 2004, Mandela announced his retirement from public life, although his charitable work continued. On 29 August 2007, a permanent statue to him was unveiled in Parliament Square, London.

He died on 5 December 2013, aged 95.

How to tell the time in English

If you want to know the time there are some ways of asking it:

• What's the time?
• What time is it?
• Can you tell me the time?

And this is how you can tell what time it is:

from http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/time

• 03:00 - It's three o'clock.
• 03:05 - It's five past three
• 03:10 - It's ten past three
• 03:15 - It's quarter past three
• 03:20 - It's twenty past three
• 03:25 - It's twenty-five past three
• 03:30 - It's half past three
• 03:35 - It's twenty-five to four
• 03:40 - It's forty to four
• 03:45 - It's quarter to four
• 03:50 - It's ten to four
• 03:55 - It's five to four
• 04:00 - It's four o'clock

If you have to tell other times you will have to mention "minutes"
And this is an exercise for you to practise telling the time.

• 02:24 - It's twenty-four minutes past two

Audio-lingua

www.audio-lingua.eu looks like a perfect place to find interesting audio files to practise listening skills and comprehension about everyday topics: myself, my house, my routines, etc.

Files are classified according to the Common European Framework levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Levels A1 and A2 are those that correspond to ESO levels even though some of you might be able to understand certain B1 audios.

Just have a try!