Talk/Show Conversation Club

Personal Efficiency: Time on your Side

A common complaint I get from students is also a very common fallacy: "I did't have enough time", as if some of us had longer days than others. A more correct phrasing would be "I couldn’t find the time" or "I had other priorities". I myself am no stranger to such poor excuses, and I have uttered them more than I care to admit. Personal efficiency is tricky because sometimes we tend to see time as something external that is beyond our control, and therefore by its very nature unmanageable. But it is manageable. How do you get things done? What is your method?

Recommended Resource: English-Attack

Today, we are suggesting a very handy tool to practice ESL -English as a Second Language.English-attack is a whole package website which offers different options to acquire and get a better command of the language, its main purpose is using authentic English and motivating learners through interactive and entertaining exercises.

Recommended Resource of the Week: ABA English

 

When we make the decision of learning a language it is because we actually want to communicate through it and understand what others say using it. But how can we do that? Well, it definitely requires a lot of commitment and discipline to become proficient in the target language. That is why we suggest to check this week’s recommended resource, it offers a way to immerse into English considering not only grammar and vocabulary but the use of the language in context.  

 

ABA English - online or mobile- is a great resource that can work pretty well for visual, auditory and even kinesthetic learners.  Wow, how does it work? Well, I have to tell you it combines videos, listening, understanding, talking and writing. This course is developed in six levels and contains more than 140 videos.

 

This method consists of eight sections. First, there is a short film –40 to 60 seconds- which you can watch with or without subtitles. The video shows a daily life or business situation. Second, you will find the talk section, where you listen to each sentence said in the film, then you can record yourself repeating it to then compare the pronunciation. The third step is writing, this time you will hear sentences from the video and write them. So far the practice has involved activities for visual and auditorium learners. 

 

Next, you will choose one role and ‘perform’ as one of the characters in the film by saying his/her script and of course you can pretend you are an actor or actress and act it out! Then, there is a video class which focuses on a grammar explanation which you can practice further in the exercise section. Following it, comes a vocabulary unit where you can record and compare your pronunciation on the words seen. Last but not least important, there is a test which assesses your knowledge on the contents learnt. The test cannot be taken until you have got  100% progress on the previous seven sections, guaranteeing you practiced enough.

 

This resource also allows you to keep track of your progress and if you enroll as a premium user, you can get certificates of your levels.

 

Browse ABA English, you will tell the difference of practicing by just watching videos, then come back and share how your experience with this resource was. 

The Pomodoro Technique: a Powerful and Simple Study Method

How can I improve my English fast? What can I do to learn more vocabulary? Which techniques give better results? You have probably pondered similar questions as the semester unfolds and tests and exams come closer and closer. These are no trivial questions; they are central to our learning outcomes because they deal with the efficiency of the study methods we use. Is the effort worth the result? In the case of the Pomodoro Technique, you bet it is.

Would you like to be a more efficient student? Read on.

Recommended resource of the week: English Monstruo

From the creators of such frightening creatures as KET, PET, IELTS, BULATS, BEC, etc., Cambridge University Press amazes English language learners with the most thrilling monster, its English Monstruo app.