- As Nadja shows, synonyms in English are not exactly the same. 'display' and 'show' are similar, but not exactly the same. Always check the sample sentences in an English-English dictionary before you use a synonym. This can also help you see the verb pattern, for example, 'show' + person + how to + verb. One of the most popular crime is cyber- crime. In my opinion, informing users can be an effective approach. In fact, governments must display how people can promote their security by making some workshops and advertising. Also, it is valuable that individuals raise their awareness about dire consequences of cyber-crime.0 votedApril 18, 20220
- I'm learning english for to feel myself comfortable when I'm traveling. Another one reason is getting the opportunity to find new friends in other countries, to communicate with people and get everything they say. Also I like the way it's going, I mean transformation of my thoughts into phrases in foreign language.0 votedOctober 26, 20203
- Scientists are learning a lot about our memory, and I think it's fascinating. For example, we have short term and long term memory. I can't remember what's in your post (which I read one minute ago) but I just sang with a song on the radio, that I learned 30 years ago!We can only learn a small number of words everyday, we need some context (as Jenny and Alfanul said), and we need to use them often. So, learn the new words from a song you like, and you'll sing them often, and remember them better. Keep a diary (written or spoken), and try to use new words there. Reread your diary often, so you can see how your language is improving.I speak French and Spanish quite well, but I was very lucky. I spent a few years studying each language, and then was able to spend a long time in those countries, using the language everyday in many different ways--not everyone can get this chance. But finding different ways to use the language each day can help. Read the news, listen to music, watch a TV series, cook from recipes in that language, take part in a discussion board...Good luck!0 votedApril 9, 20200
- If they enjoy it, why not?Motivation is hugely important to learning, so on balance I'd say them occasionally using a made up word by mistake is worth all the other skills they'd have gained from the series. Quite a few young students today still enjoy watching the Friends series!In the case of Harry Potter, many students have already read the books and seen the magic words in their own language--we can point out to them that many of these words contain parts that could be useful in real words (leviosa--> levitate) or make jokes about word stress ("It's LeviOHsa, not LevioSAA!"). They probably have the intellectual skills to work out that words referring magic likely aren't real.I try not to recommend sources that have a lot of cultural references or puns, such as Asterix (masterful translations, those!). As Som mentions, it could be a fun challenge for a C2 student, but most others would be discouraged. Having said that, English-speaking children enjoy these comics and they don't usually know the Latin references or all the puns. It would depend on how willing a student was to accept not understanding 100% of a text.0 votedSeptember 10, 20190
Some of these are very similar to English ones, but there are a couple of false friends I'll need to look out for. Tomar el pelo sounds like the English pulling my hair out so I'm glad you included tirarse de los pelos.
No ver el pelo is similar to the expression I haven't seen hide nor hair of so-and-so.
Soltarse el pelo is similar to let your hair down.
Muchas gracias!
0 votedJanuary 7, 20190Performance In The Square
When we left the Market, we saw one a Mexican male man playing musical instruments in a small square. That was a performance of playing South American soundeding music using unusual plural instruments. He was putting (was he attaching the bells while playing hte music?) had bells around his ankle and making the sound with his movements. It was a nostalgic sound. The song "El Condor passa" was the perfect sound with the instrument and my sister and I listened to the performance enthusiastically for a while. We heard a crow crowing with him together all the time. It was as if the crow was singing along together. My sister and some other customers (it's usually more clear if all the people doing the same action are in the same part of the sentence) put some money in the bag of the male with other customers because his performance was so good.This sounds like a lovely day!
one: Use 'one' if you want to emphasis the numbers. "There was one man singing and two women playing guitars."
male: this sounds very scientific. "The male mosquito is smaller than the female."
playing: this idea is also in the word 'performance' and 'using' so we don't need it.
ed/ing adjectives: This one can be confusing, but here are many websites like BBC Learning English which can help explain it.
together: When we mention two or more people/groups doing something, with all of them before the verb. "The children play together very nicely." "He plays very gently with his baby brother." If you look in the Oxford, Webster, or Cambridge online dictionaries, you'll see many example sentences.
0 votedNovember 29, 20180Sorry Aris, I've been away.
'Religious' swearing: many of my British friends (well-educated, polite) will say, "Jesus Christ!" or "God damnit!" or something like, "Christ on a bike! Christ on a pogo stick!" and it's not considered especially bad. (They don't do this around children, or at work, or loudly in public places, but around friends, at the pub, in an informal adult space.) My North American friends would consider this very strong language, even if they are athiests.
0 votedNovember 29, 20180
