Goodbye from Chiraz!

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Me talking to another teacher!

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goodbye surprise

Its an American accent and grammar song its done by me before 2 years. Listen to it and tell me what you think about it!!! i hope you like it!! AND REHAM GOT A TALENT :P

Useful Tips for Preparing for the IELTS exam

Do you still need help in preparing for the IELTS exam?

Go here for some useful tips!

Need more advice?

Good luck!

Patric

Hello Patric , Hello classmates , I have found an incredible and well -designed website " http://www.goodluckielts.com/IELTS-speaking-topics.html " it is created by experienced teachers,  you will find everything you need to know about the IELTS  exam : advice, tips , resources as well as brain training games and sample tests (reading, writing , listening and speaking)  Hope you will have time to check it .

Raghda

idioms

Hey Patric what about some idiomatic expressions ?

What about competing for the best idiom ?

It is funny and useful . Let's learn differently .

IDIOM - To have "stars in your eyes":

Someone who has stars in their eyes is very excited and hopeful about the future and imagines they are going to be very successful and famous.
Ex: "She was a girl with stars in her eyes and dreams of becoming famous.

Raghda

Tips to master the English Language !

Here are some tips which may help you to master the English Language! 

The biggest problem most people face in learning a new language is their own fear. They worry that they won’t say things correctly or that they will look stupid so they don’t talk at all. Don’t do this.Even if you study English at a language school it doesn’t mean you can’t learn outside of class. Using as many different sources, methods and tools as possible, will allow you to learn faster.

1-Surround Yourself with English 

The absolute best way to learn English is to surround yourself with it. Take notes in English, put English books around your room, listen to English language radio broadcasts, watch English news, movies and television. Speak English with your friends whenever you can. The more English material that you have around you, the faster you will learn and the more likely it is that you will begin “thinking in English.” .

2-Listen to Native Speakers as Much as Possible 

There are some good English teachers that have had to learn English as a second language before they could teach it. However, there are several reasons why many of the best schools prefer to hire native English speakers.

3-Watch English Films and Television 

This is not only a fun way to learn but it is also very effective. By watching English films (especially those with English subtitles) you can expand your vocabulary and hear the flow of speech from the actors. If you listen to the news you can also hear different accents.

4-Listen to English Music 

Music can be a very effective method of learning English. In fact, it is often used as a way of improving comprehension. The best way to learn though, is to get the lyrics (words) to the songs you are listening to and try to read them as the artist sings. There are several good internet sites where one can find the words for most songs. This way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time. And if you like to sing, fine.

5-Study As Often As Possible! 

Only by studying things like grammar and vocabulary and doing exercises, can you really improve your knowledge of any language.

6-Do Exercises and Take Tests 

Many people think that exercises and tests aren't much fun. However, by completing exercises and taking tests you can really improve your English. One of the best reasons for doing lots of exercises and tests is that they give you a benchmark to compare your future results with. Often, it is by comparing your score on a test you took yesterday with one you took a month or six months ago that you realize just how much you have learned. If you never test yourself, you will never know how much you are progressing. Start now by doing some of the many exercises and tests on this site, and return in a few days to see what you've learned. Keep doing this and you really will make some progress with English.

7-Record Yourself 

Nobody likes to hear their own voice on tape but like tests, it is good to compare your tapes from time to time. You may be so impressed with the progress you are making that you may not mind the sound of your voice as much.

8-Listen to English 

By this, we mean, speak on the phone or listen to radio broadcasts, audiobooks or CDs in English. This is different than watching the television or films because you can’t see the person that is speaking to you. Many learners of English say that speaking on the phone is one of the most difficult things that they do and the only way to improve is to practice.

Happy Easter

To those who celebrate it,,Happy Easter!
In England children are given chocolate eggs!

Click Happy Easter , to take you to a BBC slideshow of images showing how Easter is celebrated around the world.

IELTS Task 2 - The secret to writing faster and higher quality argument ...

IELTS Graph Writing :Identifying important features of a PIE CHART

Hi! Me and Fabrizio just wanted to write a few lines about our trip to London.
We don't need to repeat how much we enjoyed this beautiful city. It really is a special place, with so much to see and to do.
However what really impressed me were the people. It's one of those cities were you really see people of very different cultures live and work together on a daily basis. Our first morning we were just strolling around a park and we hardly heard anyone speak English! There were so many strangers (not tourists, residents) that you just couldn't understand where you were. Actually, the first words we heard were: "Stanna shweia!" "Fisaa, fisaa!"; it was a group of Tunisian girls that were buying some bread near our Hotel. Isn't it incredible?
Another thing that we liked very much was how much English people are kind and sympathetic to animals. Fabrizio is a vegetarian and for the first time he didn't have to struggle to explain his position or to find good stuff to eat. For example, in the grocery shop where we used to buy lunch, every sandwich or salad that didn't have meat in it was marked with a "V" - "vegetarian". It was so much easier and faster to buy lunch, because we didn't have to read all the ingredients of a product like we usually do!
And English people are also really kind to strangers. Every time we asked information about anything, they would do their best to help us out, and with a smile on their faces!
In general, I felt that people in England are both open minded and welcoming, two beautiful qualities that are not often found together (for example, I don't think Romans are so polite or kind towards strangers).

We're hoping to go back to London soon, the only downside is that it is soooo expensive!!! T_T

Bye, see you in class!

How old is Grandpa????? Stay with this ,the answer is at the end .You will be surprised!!!!

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events, The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at school, the computer age, and just things in general. The grand father replied : well , let me think a minute , I was born before TV, penicillin, polio shots, frozen food, contact lenses, frisbees and the pill.There were no credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens , man had not invented air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air , your grandma and I got married first and then lived together .Every family had a father and a mother.Until I was 25, I called every man older than me , "Sir" and after I turned 25 , I still called policemen and everyman with a title "Sir". we were before gay-rights, computer -dating ,dual careers, daycare centers and group therapy. Our lives were governed by good judgement and common sense.    We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. Serving your country was a privelege , living in this country was a bigger privilege . We thought fast food was what people ate during lent. Time - sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends -not purchasing condominiums. We listened to the Big Bands , and the President's speeches on our radios.If you saw anything with"Made in Japan " on it it was junk. The term 'making out" referred to how you did on your school exam, Pizza Hut , McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of, 'hardware "was found in a hardware store and " software" wasn't even a word and we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby, No wonder people call us "old and confused ' and say there is a generation gap ...And how old do you think I am ?   I bet you have this very old man in mind.... you are in for a shock! Are you ready ???? Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.This man would be only 59 years old!!!                                                                                                                      

We teach life , sir !

Hi everyone !
I finally managed to login :D
Well , i've found an interesting video about the Palestinian situation , but it's something different from the usual . I also think that it's a good practise for all of us (especially because she's palestinian and not a native speaker) Enjoy the video and see you in class ! :)

Yasmine 

What have you learned this term?

What language skills have you improved and what new things have you learnt this term?
What helped you most in your learning?

How much learning do you do outside the class?
for example your Vocaroo recording or some blogging on the this blog or a study group!

See you in class!
Patric

just for fun

A reply from CEO of J.P. Morgan to a pretty girl seeking a rich husband

A young and pretty lady posted this on a popular forum:


Title: What should I do to marry a rich guy?
I'm going to be honest of what I'm going to say here.I'm 25 this year. I'm very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above.You might say that I'm greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York.My requirement is not high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married?I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich persons like you?
Among those I've dated, the richest is $250k annual income, and it seems that this is my upper limit.
If someone is going to move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden(?), $250k annual income is not enough.I'm here humbly to ask a few questions:
1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)
2) Which age group should I target?
3) Why most wives of the riches are only average-looking? I've met a few girls who don't have looks and are not interesting, but they are able to marry rich guys.
4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)

Ms. Pretty

A philosophical reply from CEO of J.P. Morgan:

Dear Ms. Pretty,
I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyse your situation as a professional investor.
My annual income is more than $500k, which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I'm not wasting time here.From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you. The answer is very simple, so let me explain.Put the details aside, what you're trying to do is an exchange of "beauty" and "money" : Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square.
However, there's a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but you can't be prettier year after year.
Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset. It's not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation. If that is your only asset, your value will be much worse 10 years later.
By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating with you is also a "trading position".
If the trade value dropped we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term - same goes with the marriage that you wanted. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold or "leased".

Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would only date you, but will not marry you. I would advice that you forget looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income.This has better chance than finding a rich fool.
Hope this reply helps.


signed,
J.P. Morgan CEO