Alternative Ways of Expressing Your Opinions – What else to say besides I think and I believe

8 September, 201429 August, 2015 JacquelineLeave a comment

This week a student asked me: “Is it really necessary to say ‘I believe you’re right,’ or: ‘I feel this and that.?’ It sounds childish.” Well, you don’t have to use these expressions, but they’re certainly not childish. It just makes it clear that what you’re saying is an opinion and not a fact. I… Continue reading Alternative Ways of Expressing Your Opinions – What else to say besides I think and I believe

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Back to School

4 September, 2014 JacquelineImageLeave a comment

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TOEFL/IELTS/Advanced English Vocab Practice

3 September, 20144 September, 2014 JacquelineLeave a comment

Root Words: exist, impress, prefer, threat By Jacqueline Schaalje The advanced English texts that academic exams such as TOEFL and IELTS, and informative texts, all tend to use similar vocabulary. That is to say that the same words come back many times. You could simply read a lot of academic texts or books, or you… Continue reading TOEFL/IELTS/Advanced English Vocab Practice

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Everything You Wanted to Know about Some or Any

3 September, 20143 September, 2014 Jacqueline3 Comments

By Jacqueline Schaalje You can use some to talk about an indefinite amount of something. Here, have a look at this picture of orange slices and chocolates. Nayu Kim You can say there are some orange slices and some chocolates on the table. I don’t know how many slices there are, and I don’t particularly… Continue reading Everything You Wanted to Know about Some or Any

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Get Rid of Bad Learning Habits

31 August, 201431 August, 2014 Jacqueline2 Comments

Last week I went to the headquarters of a bank, where I had a meeting with a department manager. “Jodie” (not her real name) wanted me to teach her English. However, the first meeting was only to talk. She was a pleasant, well-dressed woman, but seemed to be insecure. By the time we finished talking,… Continue reading Get Rid of Bad Learning Habits

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The Poetry of E.E. Cummings

27 August, 201422 July, 2022 JacquelineLeave a comment

By Jacqueline Schaalje E.E. Cummings was an American poet who lived from 1894 to 1962. He received an MA from Harvard University. During WW I (The First World War) he was sent to Europe, but he was interned (imprisoned as a soldier) for a long time. After the war he became associated with modernist art in… Continue reading The Poetry of E.E. Cummings

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Top Natural Attractions in the United States + Quiz

26 August, 2014 Jacqueline3 Comments

By Harry Anderson The United States is home to a wide variety of natural attractions. The United States is huge: an impressive 3.71 million square miles (or 9.62 million square kilometers). There are states that make you feel like you’re staying in a tropical paradise. Other states have their own mountain hideaway, complete with ski… Continue reading Top Natural Attractions in the United States + Quiz

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Do You Like Your Job? Talking about Work and Jobs

23 August, 2014 Jacqueline8 Comments

Work, jobs. Ugh. Some people seem to actually like it. So what do they like? Their job or their work? Here is where a great deal of people get confused. Let’s talk about the differences about the words work and job. And hopefully by the end of it you won’t get confused anymore. Work Work… Continue reading Do You Like Your Job? Talking about Work and Jobs

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TOEFL Compare and Contrast 2

19 August, 201412 February, 2016 Jacqueline2 Comments

By Jacqueline Schaalje I promised you that we would do more practice of comparing and contrasting, so here are two new texts. Fill in the table. Identify the comparisons and contrast in the text. If you don’t know how to do this anymore, read the explanation here. Also take note of the signal words. Remember… Continue reading TOEFL Compare and Contrast 2

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Word to the Wise: lustre/luster

19 August, 2014 JacquelineLeave a comment

lustre (Br.), luster (Am.) (noun) – shine lustreless, lusterless (adjective) – without shine lustrous (adjective) – shiny lubasi Examples of how you use it: Your dress is gorgeous. I love the lustre of satin. The polish on the wooden table gives it more lustre. The lustre of an international career attracts him. The horse’s coat… Continue reading Word to the Wise: lustre/luster