Word Crimes by Weird Al.

A video for all ESL learners. Even native speakers commit many Word Crimes. Which are you guilty of? Comment below the video!

Mixed Conditionals

Here I have compiled a list of websites that contain explanations and exercises related to the 3rd and Mixed Conditionals.

This website, has a great explanation of Mixed Conditionals as well as an exercise for you to practice. The explanation. The exercise.

Another website with further explanation and exercises.

British Council: Conditionals.

Music and English 2 : Rock and Roll

Here is some newer rock music from Canadian artist Mac DeMarco. Enjoy.

[Verse 1]
Oh baby
Oh man
You're making me crazy
Really driving me mad
That's all right with me
It's really no fuss
As long as you're next to me
Just the two of us

[Chorus]
You're my, my, my, my kind of woman
My, oh my, what a girl
You're my, my, my, my kind of woman
And I'm down on my hands and knees
Begging you please, baby
Show me your world

[Verse 2]
Oh brother
Sweetheart
I'm feeling so tired
Really falling apart
And it just don't make sense to me
I really don't know
Why you stick right next to me
Wherever I go

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks


Save up all the days
A routine malaise
Just like yesterday
I told you I would stay

Would you always?
Maybe sometimes?
Make it easy?
Take your time

Think of all the ways
Momentary phase
Just like yesterday
I told you I would stay
Every time you try
Quarter half a mile
Just like yesterday
I told you I would stay

Great band here. Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.

[Hook]
It feels like I only go backwards, baby
Every part of me says go ahead
I got my hopes up again, oh no, not again
Feels like we only go backwards, darling

[Verse 1]
I know that you think you sound silly when you call my name
But I get it inside my head all day
Then I realize I'm just holding on to the hope that maybe
Your feelings don't show

[Hook]

[Verse 2]
Seed of all this indecision isn't me, oh no
Cause I decided long ago, but that's the way it seems to go
When trying so hard to get to something real
It feels

[Hook x3]

Question Tags

Please remember the format for question tags!

Positive statement verb = Negative question tag verb.
ex. Andrew posted something new on his blog, didn't he?


Negative statement verb = positive question tag verb.
ex. I'm not lazy, am I?


Go HERE to practice question tags. And check this infograph for more about question tags.



Intonation- the way we say a word or phrase.

B2 and up News Reports

Hi there!

If you are in one of my B2 or higher General English classes you will be expected to regularly complete a story of the week report. The purpose of these reports is to become exposed to news stories and other media that is regularly consumed by native speakers. This activity will help in the areas of listening, reading, vocabulary, and grammar. Please use the links on the back of the page I provide to you or feel free to use any of the links placed here.

News: 

VICE news

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Reddit World News - once you arrive at the website, click any link to get to another news story. Reddit is also a great website to explore in your free time.

Stories:

This American Life
This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 2.2 million listeners. It is produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards. It is also often the most popular podcast in the country, with another 2 million people downloading each episode.

Radiolab from WNYC
Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.

American History and Comedy: 

The Dollop

The Dollop is a weekly podcast written and produced by American comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds. Every week they discuss a topic related to US or American history. Podcasts are usually one hour and contain some foul language.

Phrasal Verbs:

The last area of the paper I want you to complete is the phrasal verb section. Please see this link to get a review of phrasal verbs.

Regional Perspectives: Asia || Project 1 Resources

Hello there! Here are a few articles related to the topic of gender equality in South East Asia. The following are all PDF files that can be downloaded and read.

Toward Gender and Equality in East Asia and the Pacific

Gender And Human Development: A South Asian Perspective

Women and Labor Markets in Asia

Please be sure to cite these articles correctly if you use them.

Citation Machine is a reliable way to cite your articles.  Please use the format found at this link, known as Chicago Style.

Cheers and see you all on Monday.

Modal Verbs A2.2, A2.3, B1.1

A modal verb (also 'modal', 'modal auxiliary verb', 'modal auxiliary') is a type of verb that is used to indicate modality – that is, likelihood (chance), ability, permission, advice and obligation. Examples include the English verbs: can/could, may/might, must, will/would, and shall/should.

This website really shows the best way to use all of these modal verbs. Modal verbs are quite strange in English so the best way to learn about using them is practicing. Practice writing and speaking with them to best understand.


          Also, this guy is not very exciting, but his explanation is simple and PERFECT!
                 

                                     

Music and English 1

I love music so I wanted to share some music I love with you. I will post the lyrics as well so if you want to sing along to learn vocabulary and pronunciation you may.

The first artist I'll share is Grimes. She is from Vancouver and an excellent pop singer/songwriter. This song is off her latest album, Art Angels.


Lyrics from here:
[Verse 1]
Dirt in your fingernails
Blood on your knees
But did that ever make you happy?
I think you were my best friend
Gentle do not reprehend
I know it hasn't been a dream
But if you pardon, I will mend

Drunk in a parking lot
Just after three
Tearin' out your hair like a banshee

Lighter and a safety pin
Light the end, burn the skin
I'll stick to you forever
Cause this scar I think is permanent

[Chorus]
Oh
Falling off the edge with you
Oh
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true

[Verse 2]
Bite off your fingernails
Cut up your skin
Tell me that it didn't happen

Running through the dark woods
Fallen couldn't see straight
I was only looking for a human to reciprocate

Baby it's a black hole
I need it to breathe
But does it really make you happy?
Kiss me with a big knife
Bloody heart of paradise
Living like a soldier
Peace of mind must be nice

[Chorus]
Oh falling off the edge with you
Oh it was too good to be true
Too good to be true

[Bridge]
Thought I had won
I thought I won til I lost
And I, fixing my fall
But for what cost?
And I see your reflection when I look at mine
And I say (I say, I say)
Baby, don't go away

[Chorus]
Falling off the edge with you
It was too good to be true
Falling off the edge with you
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true

Another song by Grimes I hope you enjoy...

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
Big beats, black cloud
Get it wrong, get loud
Write a song, get down
And everyone will know
And everyone will know
And everyone can go

[Verse 2]
Oh, then, get lost
Take his shit, maybe not
Let's sing good, he's fine
Everything you know
And everyone should go
Oh-oh-oh-oh

[Pre-Chorus]
I don't know need to know
So, do you want to?
Am I just right? (Is it just right?)
Can you see the enemy just isn't me tonight?
Oh, it is perfect
You could be anything out there
Butterflies flying in the air

[Chorus]
Oh, no, it came
Higher than an aeroplane
Don't know this song
Sweeter than a sugar cane
Why you looking for a harmony?
There is harmony in everything
It’s a butterfly whose wings span the world

[Verse 3]
On your way, getting caught up
Quit and sell livestock
Heck, get late, old body
Got you moving slow
And everyone will know
And everyone can go

[Verse 4]
Big bird, dimming
Wish I could save them
Don't know, no plan
Everyone can go
And nobody can know
And nobody can know

[Pre-Chorus]
I don't know need to know
So, do you want to?
Am I just (am I just?)
Can you see the enemy just isn't me?
Oh, baby, it is perfect
You could be anything out there
Butterflies flying in the air

[Chorus]
Oh, no, it came
Higher than an aeroplane
Don't know this song
Sweeter than a sugar cane
Why you looking for a harmony?
There is harmony in everything
It’s a butterfly whose wings span the world
So fly away

[Bridge]
If you're looking for a dream girl
I'll never be your dream girl
Living in the real world
Looking for a dream girl

[Chorus]
Oh, no, it came
Higher than an aeroplane
Don't know this song
Sweeter than a sugar cane
Why you looking for a harmony?
There is harmony in everything
It’s a butterfly whose wings span the world
So fly away

[Outro]
If you're looking for a dream girl
I'll never be your dream girl

A2.3 Relative Clauses beyond the classroom.

What is a relative clause?

A relative clause is one kind of dependent clause. It has a subject and verb, but can't stand alone as a sentence. It is sometimes called an “adjective clause” because it functions like an adjective—it gives more information about a noun. <---- The most important thing! 

Please go to this link to find a PDF file with many relative clause exercises.

Do and Make Difference

Here is a good way to know the difference between Do and Make. Click here for an exercise.