What are some of your favorite movies or books? Marvel movies? Harry Potter? Star Wars? Do you love these movies? Or, do you wish you could change something about them? Here's a great writing exercise with my example, Choose a story you want to change. I choose Star Wars Episode 9: The Rise of SkywalkerWhat … Continue reading How Would You Change the Story?
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Harry Potter-Adjectives
I hope you enjoyed my last post about practicing adjectives through Marvel characters https://mongoose-esl.com/2020/03/26/marvel-universe-adjectives/. But, maybe you are not a fan of the Marvel universe. You can use this exercise with any set of characters you like! Here's a similar exercise using my favorite set of characters-from Harry Potter! Just like the last exercise, use … Continue reading Harry Potter-Adjectives
Let’s Go Shopping!
Maybe you're like me and you have been stuck inside for last couple of weeks! Right now all the shopping malls are closed! Online shopping is fun but you might be trying to save money right now. So, instead of shopping let's pretend! Here are the rules, You have $500 to spend. You must have … Continue reading Let’s Go Shopping!
How to Eradicate a Disease- a TED Ed Video
Right now you might be thinking about diseases and how they spread. Here's a video about one disease that we have a cure for-small pox. Check out the questions and vocabulary words after you finishing watching the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBSandHijDc What is special about smallpox?How does smallpox spread?What were some of the challenges with smallpox?When was … Continue reading How to Eradicate a Disease- a TED Ed Video
What Should I Be Watching?
Stuck at home? Looking for something new to watch on Netflix? Here are my top picks for what to watch! If you want to improve your everyday American English Of course everyone will tell you to watch Friends and How I Met Your Mother, but here are some other ones to consider: The Office (US)- … Continue reading What Should I Be Watching?
I Can’t Think of What to Write!
Do you ever get writer's block? Writer's block is when you can not think of what to write next. It feels like your brain is stuck or something is blocking your brain from thinking of what to write. Practicing your writing skills can help your speaking skills. However, sometimes it feels like you just don't … Continue reading I Can’t Think of What to Write!
COVID-19 Vocabulary Words
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this very scary time! Please listen to your health officials' recommendations for how to stay healthy and keep others healthy. News and updates about COVID-19 are dominating our lives now. Here are some of the words you are probably seeing in many places that you didn't … Continue reading COVID-19 Vocabulary Words
Writing Practice-Journaling
Writing practice is an important step in improving your general English skills, especially your speaking skills. Speaking and writing are connected, therefore if you want to improve your speaking skills you should also practice writing. Grammar exercises are a good form of writing practice! But, grammar exercises are often boring. A more interesting way to … Continue reading Writing Practice-Journaling
Super Bowl Sunday!
The Super Bowl is the championship game for American Football. It is definitely one of the most watched television events for Americans. The two top football teams play against each other. But, this game is about more than just watching football, here are some of the other important elements of the game to help you … Continue reading Super Bowl Sunday!
TOEFL Tuesday!
Are you looking for a lot of free practice tests to study for the TOEFL and improve your score? There are a lot of free practice tests on Youtube! Here's a video that uses the updated, new TOEFL. This excellent video includes sample answers if you download the PDF. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zot2_HgAPnk If you still want more … Continue reading TOEFL Tuesday!
IELTS Speaking-Part 2
The monologue, or long answer in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test can seem very scary! And, it is! Speaking for two minutes on a topic can be very difficult. That's why it is extremely important to strategize. How? The questions for Part 2 are always similar in structure. When you practice giving answers, … Continue reading IELTS Speaking-Part 2
Fun Friday! Fast Food Friday!
Friday is here and it's time for a little fun! Let's talk about fast food, which a lot of us love! For today, I'm using one of my favorite channels on YouTube, The Try Guys. To see all their videos, check out their YouTube page here! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpi8TJfiA4lKGkaXs__YdBA/playlists Fast Food? But how does fast food connect … Continue reading Fun Friday! Fast Food Friday!
New Year’s Resolution? Future Tense Practice!
New Year's Resolutions are a great way to think about the future and reflect on the past. Not sure what they are? Check out my last post on New Year's Resolutions. https://mongoose-esl.com/2020/01/21/happy-new-year/ The Future Tense Making resolutions is a great way to think about your life and goals. However, it's also a great way to … Continue reading New Year’s Resolution? Future Tense Practice!
Elevating your Vocabulary
Let's talk about how to improve your vocabulary and how start using those higher level words. Why? If you are preparing for the TOEFL or IELTS, if you are writing a lot of e-mails or documents, if you are giving presentations, you should be using more high level vocabulary words! How? It's very difficult to … Continue reading Elevating your Vocabulary
Compare/Contrast Exercise
Practice comparing and contrasting while talking about smartphones!
The New TOEFL!
The New TOEFL Test!
Idioms from Disney Movies!
Who doesn't love the Disney movies? Here are some great idioms to use in daily conversation taken from classic Disney movies! Click Here! Which are your favorite? Which will you use in your conversation?
TED Talk Tuesdays!
Another great TED Talk!
Filler Words
A great resource to use if you are learning or teaching filler words!
Learning through a Documentary!
Learn English through this great documentary!
TED Talk Tuesdays!
These TED videos from the series Small Thing Big Idea are great for listening practice. They are also great practice for the TOEFL listening test. Teachers: Students should watch these videos without stopping and then check for comprehension using the following questions. Learners: Post your answers to the questions below! https://embed.ted.com/talks/lang/en/paola_antonelli_the_3_000_year_history_of_the_hoodie Questions How often do you wear … Continue reading TED Talk Tuesdays!
TED Talk Tuesdays!
Another great TED Talk!
Reading Thursdays!
Another great book for teachers and learners to use!
Reading Thursdays!
Here's a great book that learners and teachers can use!
Reading Thursdays!
Another great book for learners and teachers!
Reading Thursdays!
Another great book for teachers and learners!
TED Talk Tuesdays!
Another video from TED to practice listening!
Reading Thursdays!
A book for learners and teachers to use as a part of English language learning!
TED Talk Tuesdays!
A shorter, quicker TED video that still provides plenty of practice!
Modals
Modals are very common in polite language. Practice some modals here!
Do you Agree or Disagree?
Conversation practice using Agree/Disagree statements for Intermediate-Advanced students!
TED Talk Lesson!
Here is a TED Talk lesson! Practice your listening skills with this interesting video. This lesson is for intermediate and advanced students.
Why We Say OK!
Have you ever thought about why we say OK? We use this word so often in American English! Watch this fun video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UnIDL-eHOs A fun video from Vox! Why are some of the reasons you say Ok? Are you going to start using this more? Leave your answers below!
Marvel Universe-Adjectives
I LOVE the Marvel Universe! I love the movies, characters, and storylines! I love watching the movies again and again and having long discussions about them. There are so many characters in the Marvel movies. They are all different right? But when you try to describe them you might be using the same adjectives-good, nice, … Continue reading Marvel Universe-Adjectives
Working From Home
Like many people across the world, you might be working from home right now! I have been working from home for several years now and I love it. Luckily, I don't have to manage kids at home at the same time. I realize that is an extra challenge. But, here are some of my tips … Continue reading Working From Home
What are you reading?
Do you have more time on your hands these days? Here's what I'm reading in case you are looking for a recommendation! Copyright Harper Collins Publishers This is a fantastic book for high intermediate and advanced students! The story is engaging and exciting. What are you reading right now? Leave me your recommendations!
Writer's Block
Are you trying to practice your writing skills but feel like you don't know what to write? Did you see my last post on journaling- https://mongoose-esl.com/2020/03/19/writing-practice-journaling/- but feel like you can't write more than a few sentences? You might have writer's block! Writer's block is when you are unable to think of what to write. … Continue reading Writer's Block
