esl lessons
Tips for ESL Students - Destroy Your Fear of the Possessive Apostrophe
Apostrophes are not intended to be the nightmare of ESL students or anyone else for that matter. Here we destroy your fear of the possessive apostrophe by showing you how easy it is to understand.
What is the difference between the two sentences in the following three sets of statements?
1. The girl’s papers are on the table, and
The girls’ papers are on the table
2. The book’s pages are damaged, and
The books’ pages are damaged
3. What you see there is the dog’s food, and
What you see there is the dogs’ food
The possessive apostrophe is always used, as its name states, to denote possession of something. It is normal for those taking ESL lessons, to feel confused by the position of such an apostrophe in a noun; however, it is truly very simple to understand.
The trick, if you want to see it as such, is for the ESL student to define if the possessive noun, or the owner of the thing, which can be a person or a thing, is singular or plural, and whether or not it ends in –s in its written form.
These are the rules:
1. When the possessive noun is singular, always add an apostrophe (’) + an -s. For example:
- The cat’s litter
- Laura’s house
- The baby’s crib
2. When the possessive noun doesn’t end in –s in its written form, always add an apostrophe (’) + an –s. For example:
- Mary’s children
- The dog’s food
- The house’s roof
3. When the possessive noun is plural and ends in –s, which includes most plural nouns, just add an apostrophe (’). For example:
- The cats’ tails
- The foods’ flavors
- The texts’ meaning
This is why you see sentences with things like the following:
- Charles’s car (Note that ‘Charles’ is singular)
- The children’s toys (Note that ‘children’ is plural, but it doesn’t end in –s)
- The boss’s office (Note that ‘boss’ is singular)
And this is also why you don’t know if something belongs to one person or to several until it is written down.
In fact, you basically have to remember the third rule; if this one doesn’t apply, always add an apostrophe (’) and an –s.
Now you’re ready to go out and impress everyone at your ESL class, but remember to spread the joy. Let your classmates into the big secret you just learned and release their fear too!
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Tips for ESL Students - 6 Considerations to Take Into Account before Transferring Colleges
Even if you thoroughly analyzed your college options before choosing the one that you considered best, once you arrive there you may discover that it is not what you thought it would be.
You may be too homesick to focus, or feel out of place, or your financial situation is not what you expected, and you are now seriously considering transferring to another campus.
This is a valid move; however, before you make up your mind, check these 6 considerations, to avoid bumping into the same rock twice:
1. Do your homework
This is, research the college you are considering, but first, identify what it is in your current college that makes you unhappy. Make a list of what changes will make your current college life more enjoyable and make sure your new option meets them all. It will be truly frustrating to transfer only to find you feel the same.
2. Pay it a visit
We mean, visit the new campus. College campuses are very different one from another, and you have to make sure the new layout fits your needs and likes. Some are enclosed and tight facilities while others have ample green space and distance between buildings; some are located in big cities and others in small towns. What do you prefer? Go see if you can picture yourself living there.
3. Be open to change
You better consider that you may have to reorganize your graduation schedule if you transfer. You may find it difficult to transfer some of your credits; you may need to take summer courses or more subjects during the semester to catch up and graduate on time. This will be easier if you are transferring within the same state and between public universities, because these work under the same curriculum.
4. Gather everything you need
You must have transcripts and course descriptions for all of your courses ready, because these are decisive for you to transfer as many credits as possible. You can find these in the guidebook you used upon registering for your classes or in the college’s website.
5. Get oriented
Before beginning classes, attend a transfer student orientation session. It will help you immerse yourself into college life and is a great opportunity to meet other students. In some of these sessions, the college also gives assessment testing specific to that university, so make sure you find out exactly what is expected of you when you attend.
6. Check out the surroundings
College life is not just about attending classes inside campus, you have a lifestyle, and you have to make sure the college’s surroundings provide everything you need. For example, if you are taking ESL lessons, find out if there’s an ESL school nearby, if it fits your needs, or if the college offers one. Check out the social scene: does it fit your style? Are there exercising options you like? Well, you get the point. Extracurricular activities are as important as your curricular ones, and it is recommended that you achieve a balance in your student life. Thus, pay close attention to what your new college can offer, and expect to be impressed.
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ESL Students Have Fun with Proverbs
Every day we hear different proverbs used in our discussions. A proverb is defined in the English dictionary as “a short well-known expression that states a general truth or provides advice.” Proverbs are also often referred to as “sayings.” They are a favorite way for teachers to impart age-old wisdom to students, and especially useful for parents trying to help children learn valuable life lessons. If you are presently taking ESL classes, you will find that studying and even implementing some of these words of wisdom into your everyday conversations will help you further understand the language. Learning common proverbs will also aid your understanding of some common phrases that are often shortened versions of longer proverbs. Here are 10 of the most common proverbs (and their meanings) that you’re likely to hear as you continue your English learning adventures.
1. People who live in glass houses should never throw stones.
You shouldn’t criticize others unless you have no faults yourself.
2. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Going with a sure thing is better than risking an unknown.
3. A miss is as good as a mile.
A miss is a miss regardless of how much you missed by.
4. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Regardless of how strong you think something is, it is still vulnerable at its weakest point.
5. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It’s easier to prevent something in the first place than to fix it afterwards.
6. A word to the wise is sufficient.
A smart person only needs to be told something once.
7. A thousand mile journey begins with one step.
Focus on getting started instead of the length of the total journey.
8. Actions speak louder than words.
You can demonstrate more of what you mean by doing something instead of just talking about it.
9. He can’t see the forest for the trees.
Sometimes we get too focused on little things instead of seeing the big picture.
10. He who hesitates is lost.
Sometimes an opportunity will pass you by if you take too long to make a decision.
There are hundreds of proverbs in the English language, many of which can be found in various collections in libraries and bookstores. You can also find many sites online that provide free word games and puzzles that allow you to test your knowledge of some common proverbs by filling in blank portions of the saying. It’s a great way to practice English language skills, so the next time you hear someone say, “It never rains but it pours”, you’ll know that they’re using a proverb. Try using some during your ESL lessons and you’ll most definitely impress your teacher and classmates!
If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).
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Want to Fit In? Go Extracurricular!
Just as during your high school years, you don’t learn everything inside a college classroom. In high school, most students learn while doing different activities. Community work taught you about life, a hobby taught you new skills, and taking piano or painting lessons showed you new ways to express yourself. It is exactly the same when you get to college.
Extracurricular activities without a doubt enhance your education and expand your learning capabilities; however, one of the main reasons why students pursue them is because they are an easy way to make new friends. You will meet lots of new people in an environment where you can talk and share experiences without competing against each other.
These activities also strengthen your sense of belonging, because you feel a part of something. Finally you fit in the campus, not just inside a classroom. You will understand the greatest meaning of campus life, allowing you to enjoy your college years much more and thus, contributing to your success.
Extracurricular activities will help you grow. Along with ESL lessons, these help you speak more freely in front of people, teach you how to listen attentively, show you how to value teamwork and group activities, help you get rid of shyness, and increase your communication skills.
Some of these activities will strengthen your resume and your image among future employers. Actually, very commonly, graduates go after their dreams instead of going after a major in a career, because a person excels in what he or she loves.
Through extracurricular activities, you give back to your college and are able to support your friends in what they do. It is a great way to network and gain positive exposure.
When talking about extracurricular activities, there is something for everyone. Most universities offer a wide array of worthy and interesting activities and groups like fraternities, sororities, ski trips, kayaking clubs, athletic teams, tennis, swimming, language clubs, poetry, debates, reading clubs, mountain climbing, chess, volunteer work, study groups, student boards, student government, women’s clubs, international clubs, newspaper, radio station, study abroad programs, drama productions, dance, musical concerts, and comedy, among hundreds of others!
You can start looking for what interests you right after starting college, however, try not to overdo it during your first semester, or until you are certain that you can handle these activities without sacrificing your academic workload. Start with a couple of activities and keep adding others once you feel comfortable and capable of managing everything.
Another good piece of advice is to not close the doors on something without trying it out. You will experience and learn much more if you are open-minded and excited about trying new things. Do not get influenced by those who create stereotypes; if you’ve never seen an opera, a photography exhibit, or a ballet, college years are the time to go and confirm if you like it or not. In the end it is your life and you should live it as you wish to live it.
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7 Vital Aspects on How to Give a Good Presentation in English
There are many reasons why a person has to speak in front of an audience, but the most common reason during college years or when taking ESL lessons, are presentations.
During a presentation, the student presents something to his or her classmates; it could be an idea, a product, study results, or a project, among many others. The general purpose is to communicate something through informing, training, persuading, or selling.
Presentations are very popular because they are effective in communicating the message, so, if you are in college and learning English, be sure that you will have to give a presentation soon, if you haven’t already.
In order to communicate your message effectively during a presentation, you must have the appropriate knowledge of vocabulary and techniques. Here we present you 7 crucial aspects of good presentations:
1. Be prepared! We cannot stress this enough. Be ready for your presentation! If you are well prepared, you will be confident, and your audience will feel it, putting you in control of the room and making everyone listen attentively.
2. Structure your presentation. A clear structure has an introduction, a main message, and a conclusion.
3. Be equipped. Depending on how you designed your presentation, you may need a whiteboard, a flipchart, an overhead projector, a slide projector of 35mm, or computer graphics. All of these have their good points and bad points, but whatever the case, you must master its functioning in every way, and be prepared for any eventuality.
4. Everything comes through the eyes thus, visual aids are indispensable. You can use photographs, graphs, maps, charts, or tables, for example. However, be careful to not overdo it and cause confusion. Stick to meaningful examples that deliver your message clearly and directly.
5. Learn signposting, because unless you tell them, your audience will not know where they are. ‘Signposting’ is special language that helps locate your listeners, for example: “Let’s begin by…”, “That’s all I have to say in regards to…”, “Let’s move on to…”, “Let’s consider this in more detail…”, “Let me deal with that later, ok?”, “Let’s recap…”, or “To begin with…”.
6. Bond with your audience. The best way to do this is to be happy and enthusiastic, look each person in the eyes, and try to speak so as to make everyone feel you are talking to them specifically.
7. Talk the right body talk. What you are not saying with words you could be saying with your body, thus, make sure you dress and walk appropriately, and that your hair, makeup, expression, and even glasses, impress in the right way as soon as you introduce yourself.
It’s true. Public speaking is a challenge for many people, and even more so if you are not completely fluent in English, because your confidence is not up there and you know the audience may know the language much better than you, however, keep in mind that only you know the topic you will be talking about, and just be prepared!
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5 Interesting Tips for What to Do in Your English Club
So, you have started your successful English Club and need some ideas to keep it interesting, dynamic and welcoming? Read on to find 5 tips to make your English Club excel and be a great complement to your ESL lessons:
1. Define a warm-up time
It’s the same as what teachers do. You begin class with a funny conversation or activity. It is the time you establish to wake everyone up and help them focus on what is coming. The activities will depend on your club’s focus, whether it is more academic or social. If you focus on the attendees, think of what will keep them interested and motivated for the activities that will come next. The warm-up should serve as an introduction to the main activity or the reason you’re meeting on that particular day.
2. Organize the meetings
The club can be organized in many ways. You can center your activities on one area, like conversation or reading, or devote each week to a different one, sorting out topics and skills. Each member can plan an activity related to the week’s topic or each one can be in charge of a week’s session. There should always be a meeting leader, who will guide the activities and will have the opportunity to practice his or her leadership and creative skills.
3. Have a back-up plan
In case the leader cannot make it, you must have a back-up plan. The leader should call someone in case he or she cannot attend, and should give instructions as to what to do, but if this doesn’t happen, be prepared! You can have discussion questions prepared, or learn 15 new words from the dictionary and use them in sentences, or play a game of cards, or any other game, in English. For example, you can have a game of Monopoly, Life, or any other board game in English on hand, in case you have a last minute change of plans.
4. Create a suggestion box
Encourage members to leave suggestions every week. It will enrich the meetings and people will feel very comfortable and motivated if they are heard.
5. Plan excursions
So much fun! Once a month is a good parameter. Excursions are a joyful and interesting way to bond. Go watch a movie, play a sport, volunteer, do a back yard sale, have a picnic, go dancing, have dinner together, or visit a tourist attraction. No matter what you do, always speak in English
No matter what it is you do, the important thing is to keep your club’s goal in mind: you are getting together to have a good time AND to put everything you’re learning in your ESL lessons to good use in real life settings.
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Useful Phrasal Verbs for ESL Students
If you’re an ESL student who happens to be more than puzzled about how phrasal verbs are used and what they mean, you’ll find this guide will come in really handy.
1. A phrasal verb is a verb used with one or two particles or prepositions, such as up, down, in, on, out, off.
Jim put down the book.
I am looking forward to seeing you.
2. Some phrasal verbs do not take an object.
Tom stood up, came in, and said hello.
Come on, we’re going to be late!
Look out!
3. Some phrasal verbs which take an object can separate: if the object is a noun we can put it before or after the particle.
Please bring back the books OR
Please bring the books back.
But if the object is a pronoun, we can only put it before the particle.
I want my book so bring it back.
(not: I want my book so bring back it.)
4. Some phrasal verbs take an object but cannot separate the verb from the particle.
The twins look after Archie.
(not: The twins look Archie after)
5. Some phrasal verbs have three parts. These must all stay together.
Children look forward to Christmas.
Mary held on to her mother’s hand.
6. Sometimes we can understand a phrasal verb from the different parts.
They got down from the bus.
Please pick up those papers.
7. Sometimes the meaning is not clear from the different parts.
They put out the fire. (They extinguished it.)
I don’t get on with my sister-in-law. (I don’t have a good relationship with her.)
8. Some phrasal verbs have more than one meaning.
The bomb went off. (It exploded.)
The lights went off last night. (They stopped working.)
The milk went off last week. (It went bad.)
USE
We use phrasal verbs a great deal when we speak, instead of more formal-sounding words with the same meaning. We also use them in informal writing, like letters to friends. Phrasal verbs are seen and practiced in ESL classes because it is essential for students to become familiarized with them.
Here are some common phrasal verbs with their most usual meanings:
1. Phrasal verbs with an object that can be separated:
- Bring up: to raise a child. Her parents brought her up to be polite.
- Put out: to make something stop burning. Please put your cigarette out.
- Take off: to remove an item of clothing. Lucy took her clothes off and got into bed.
2. Phrasal verbs with an object that cannot be separated:
- Come across: find by chance. I came across an old photograph in my desk drawer.
- Give up: stop or quit doing something. My Dad has given up smoking.
- Keep on: continue doing something. Keep on reading for a while.
3- Phrasal verbs that do not take an object and so cannot be separated:
- Break down: to stop working. The old car broke down.
- Get together: to meet. We could get together tomorrow evening.
- Go off: to explode. The bomb went off and made a loud noise.
Make sure you practice these and other phrasal verbs to take advantage of your ESL lessons!
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Incredibly Useful Business Vocabulary for ESL Students
What is a collocation? Why are they such a nuisance? Ok, so first things first. A collocation is a pair or group of words often used together. They pose a true challenge to non-native speakers of English since it requires a big effort on their behalf to learn them. For native speakers they simply sound right or not. The native English speaker intuitively makes the correct collocation, based on a lifetime’s experience of hearing and reading the words in set combinations. Unfortunately, it is not that simple for those learning English because there are no collocation rules that can be learned. The non-native speaker has a more limited experience and may frequently collocate words in a way that sounds unnatural to the native speaker. Collocations are often present in ESL lessons, in other words people learn to give them a more natural way of speaking.
We use collocations everywhere, and the business world is not an exception. So, if you want to do business, you might want to learn some of these favorites.
* annual turnover: for a company, the amount of business it conducts during a year, usually measured through income or sales. Our annual turnover exceeded the board’s expectations.
* break off negotiations: to stop negotiations abruptly. They decided to break off negotiations once they realized the products were not what they expected.
* cease trading: to stop trading. Due to severe production problems, the company had to cease trading
* chair a meeting: to preside over as chairperson. John was called to chair the meeting that would change the company’s destiny
* close a deal: to formally conclude bargaining; to bring negotiating to an end by reaching an agreement. We negotiated the terms of the agreement, and this afternoon we will close the deal.
* close a/the sale: to complete the sale of something; to seal a bargain in the sale of something. The salesman closed the sale and the customer drove off in a brand new car.
* dismiss an offer: to not accept an offer. After much consideration, the offer was dismissed.
* launch a new product: to start or promote. They launched a new breakfast cereal.
* lay off staff: to put an end to someone’s employment at something. The automobile factory laid five hundred people off from work. The opposite is take on staff
* go bankrupt: having been legally declared financially insolvent. After months of struggling, the company finally went bankrupt.
* make a profit: to make a return on a business undertaking after all operating expenses have been met. The new marketing strategies were effective in helping the company make a profit. The opposite is make a loss.
If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!
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There’s No Magic Behind An English Course
Language learning can be very intriguing. People tend to think that after making the decision to take up a course, knowledge will start growing unattended in some corner of their minds. So, what they usually do is attend ESL classes, more or less regularly, and hope that every time a class finishes, their English level will be considerably higher. If they can’t tell a complete story then, using their “new” language, after the first or second lesson, frustration settles in their minds, and they usually end up blaming the trainer, the material, the time, their stress, or whatever seems most suitable.
This is more evident in one-on-one courses, as the pressure to succeed is only exerted by the teacher and not from peers. Excuses for a poor performance proliferate quickly and the students soon forget that at least 50% of their success depends basically on their own efforts. A course may be fantastic, the trainers and methodology a dream, but if a student is not fully committed to work hard all along the process, said course is bound to fail.
The symptoms of failure start long before the course is finished; they appear by the beginning of the second or third class. What are they? Just simple indicators that a student is not fully committed or has a careless behavior towards the course. Here is a list of the most typical ones:
- INCOMPLETE MATERIAL: Not having a notebook may be acceptable once, but lost books, CDs, or whatever material the class requires may be telling you that the course is not as important for the student as it should be. Important things are kept on hand, as you use them regularly.
- LATE ARRIVAL: Unexpected meetings or commuting may interfere sometimes with lessons. But students should arrange their schedules accordingly and make the best use of their time, not to interrupt their and other people’s lessons. Losing one half of each lesson will make a student learn probably only one third of what he expects.
- NO HOMEWORK: When excuses are abundant and real work too little, a student has found the shortest way to failure. Homework was created to use and practice what you learn, if you don’t practice, you don’t remember a thing.
- CLASS INTERRUPTIONS: Cell phones are distracting for students, and a nightmare for teachers. The more a cell phone rings during the class, the lower the level of the English course in the student’s personal hierarchy. Who learns unimportant things?
- QUESTIONING: A teacher may not be right all the time, but he certainly won’t be wrong all the time. When a student questions everything you say it is only obvious that he is not willing to learn from you. And people who don’t want to learn, will never learn.
Many other factors can interfere with a student’s capacity to learn English, like stress levels or natural skills. However, most of them can be eluded with the adequate methodology and a suitable trainer. But no strategy can work properly if the main interference comes from the student’s wrong attitude towards the learning process. There’s no magic behind an English course to make you learn a whole language over the weekend. No system can compensate for a lack of effort, only a student’s commitment and hard work will. So, if you’re planning to take up a course soon, remember that only by doing your best will you be able to get the most of the whole program. That’s the formula.
Use English as a Native Speaker
Many call center recruiters know that the prospects with the most diplomas and certificates extended by the best English institutes are not always the ones that speak more fluently. This is due to a basic fact: usually, institutes focus more on writing and grammar than on speaking and listening skills, the reason being that most teachers were taught that way, and, as they are not native speakers, they don’t have good speaking skills themselves. This is, of course, the case in general, but there are always exceptions.
Call centers, among many other businesses, need people that know how to speak better than they write. Of course, overall knowledge, as covered in ESL lessons, is preferred, but recruiters know that oral communication is essential in today’s changing world. This means proficiency in verbal and listening skills, and any student that wants to progress with the English language should take this into serious consideration.
One of the biggest barriers English learners will face is their own language. Teachers get tired of repeating the same: “Think in English”. But most students find this impossible: they tend to think in their own language and then translate that into English. This creates, at least, two problems: one, is that the translation is literal (similar to what you would expect from Google Translator, for instance) and two, that the whole process takes double the time than what it would normally take if no translation were necessary.
Another big challenge is vocabulary and grammar. English is a dinamic language, and is expanded every day. Recently, for example, the term “Web 2.0″ was accepted as a new English term. Even if this is a commonly used term and most people know it, there are others that are not so well-known. Native speakers have daily access to words and learn everyday how to use new ones. People that don’t live in English-speaking countries have, however, fewer opportunities in this sense. But the great advantage English has, as opposed to other languages, is that there is a vast variety of audio and video material to get reference from and this way learn to listen and speak fluently. Of course, you should make sure the movies are not dubbed, but subtitled. In some countries, like Spain, movies are distributed officially without subtitles, that is, dubbed in Spanish by Spanish actors. This is meant to preserve their language. But if that’s your case, you can find online lots of movies, music, and videos in English, so that you can learn directly from the source and study different accents and ways of speaking, apart from the use of idioms and expressions of daily use.
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