http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/audioslideshow/2012/may/11/new-review-month-in-photography
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audioslideshow/2012/mar/29/molly-crabapple-new-york-interactive
Practice your speaking skills using these brill photos:
A. Think of show-off collocations and shiny syntax you can use to deal with the picture.
B. Write a ticklist
C. Practise describing the picture out loud.
D.Tick off items from your list as you go.
E. Then try again and record yourself
F. Listen back.
G. Repeat steps C to F after including any new lexical or syntactic niceties that may have popped to mind. Make sure you pay attention to words you might have mispronounced in the first recording.
Whatever you do, PRACTISE OUT LOUD!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Monday, May 07, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012

These videos can make for a few hours of film review oral practice. Use them!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxwYypFgOrI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74jLrSWgIgo&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rm4UnC29BI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS-8Q7QIk1I&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS-8Q7QIk1I&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njLcOqW7xV0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3u6LVHlGTk&feature=relmfu
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAQSa0963T8&feature=relmfu
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAQSa0963T8&feature=relmfuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl0AWjXzBk0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozzmG0I3xpk&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwBpFuRe7t8&feature=relmfu
Labels:
B2 vocab,
B2 listening,
B2 speaking,
C1 listening,
C1 speaking,
c1 vocab
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sound clip webpage. I guess they must have recently started to put it together since there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of sound clips, at least not in the homepage. Some of clips are quite cool, though. Take your pic and parrot!
http://www.hark.com/clips/ymqpgplfjj-fraggle-rock-theme
http://www.hark.com/clips/dfdrvxmjlp-im-popeye-the-sailor-man
http://www.hark.com/clips/nptnvzqhqs-you-wanna-hear-how-mommy-and-me-met
http://www.hark.com/clips/nwvjmbrdlh-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-part-5
http://www.hark.com/clips/qlhtwfdbvv-im-a-bouncer-in-a-titty-bar-bill
http://www.hark.com/clips/xlvpllwqhk-check-out-the-big-brain-on-brett
http://www.hark.com/clips/qbbklcwyvw-funny
http://www.hark.com/clips/lqdgmjkyss-i-fantasize-about-massive-pristine-convenience
http://www.hark.com/clips/jcpdqjknwh-im-sorry-for-being-such-a-bastard
http://www.hark.com/clips/rnglhbdbth-he-contacts-you-through-a-fuckin-bird
http://www.hark.com/clips/znmnfyktwt-just-another-fat-fuck-walkin-out-of-the-casino-with-a-suitcase
http://www.hark.com/clips/nxbwpnpkky-or-are-you-going-to-bite
http://www.hark.com/clips/ymqpgplfjj-fraggle-rock-theme
http://www.hark.com/clips/dfdrvxmjlp-im-popeye-the-sailor-man
http://www.hark.com/clips/nptnvzqhqs-you-wanna-hear-how-mommy-and-me-met
http://www.hark.com/clips/nwvjmbrdlh-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-part-5
http://www.hark.com/clips/qlhtwfdbvv-im-a-bouncer-in-a-titty-bar-bill
http://www.hark.com/clips/xlvpllwqhk-check-out-the-big-brain-on-brett
http://www.hark.com/clips/qbbklcwyvw-funny
http://www.hark.com/clips/lqdgmjkyss-i-fantasize-about-massive-pristine-convenience
http://www.hark.com/clips/jcpdqjknwh-im-sorry-for-being-such-a-bastard
http://www.hark.com/clips/rnglhbdbth-he-contacts-you-through-a-fuckin-bird
http://www.hark.com/clips/znmnfyktwt-just-another-fat-fuck-walkin-out-of-the-casino-with-a-suitcase
http://www.hark.com/clips/nxbwpnpkky-or-are-you-going-to-bite
Monday, April 09, 2012
Mr Auster interviewed by GRANTA magazine USA editor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuEpBEPTxUU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuEpBEPTxUU
Labels:
B2 listening,
B2 speaking,
C1 listening,
C1 speaking,
literature
Saturday, March 31, 2012
British writer Will Self reflects on our sad sad parallel cyberspace selves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDoBqeV6Lc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eLiW6iPGjE&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDoBqeV6Lc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eLiW6iPGjE&feature=relmfu
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Accent tags have flooded youtube for quite some time now. These videos are interesting in that you get samples of real English accents. The last vid is a freestyle impro. the girl takes on oldshool trini accent. It's a right laugh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juFxMpqquzk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEP6SmZx2y0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE1wZyxoVpE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93aM7mSmodM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_OTYzkpc5w&feature=related
http:/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXn5S3n6QIE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDWcXKPRELg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSGGUI6eV1s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfO8F6Uz_qM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SssJOlJrq7g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXguVx8qbNo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juFxMpqquzk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEP6SmZx2y0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE1wZyxoVpE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93aM7mSmodM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_OTYzkpc5w&feature=related
http:/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXn5S3n6QIE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDWcXKPRELg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSGGUI6eV1s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfO8F6Uz_qM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SssJOlJrq7g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXguVx8qbNo&feature=related
Labels:
B2 listening,
B2 speaking,
C1 listening,
C1 speaking
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
For extra science vocabulary and real-deal listening practice...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/series/science
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/series/science
Should you have any doubts related to the field of law, here's an excellent specialized dictionary.
http://blackslawdictionary.org/
http://blackslawdictionary.org/
Thursday, February 09, 2012

Another of the Guardian's treasures waiting to be discovered is its city walks podcast. You can download the audio files for free!!!
Author Ian Rankin takes you around Edimburgh!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/audio/2007/jan/10/cityguides885
Dickens's London audio tour. There's a map to go with it!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio/2011/nov/24/dickens-audio-tour-david-copperfield
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2011/09/22/dickens_walk.pdf
Poet Roger McGough's vision of his hometown.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/audio/2006/nov/27/cityguides880
Steve Bell's Brighton
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/audio/2006/dec/21/cityguides882
Labels:
b2 FUN,
B2 listening,
B2 speaking,
C1 fun,
C1 listening,
C1 speaking
Monday, February 06, 2012
I'm still tripping about stuff I found last weekend on the Guardian's web. Well, this new discovery certainly does not fall short of the others...In the wonderful section of interactives, there's this brilliant city guides series . They only cover a few cities, though. Take your pick and plan a dream trip!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/city-guides
Other interactives worth checking out:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2012/feb/05/what-being-british-mean-interactive
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2012/jan/27/how-european-are-you-quiz
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/feb/05/chastleton-house-cotswolds-panoramic-architecture
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2012/jan/25/europe-migration-eu-interactive
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/city-guides
Other interactives worth checking out:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2012/feb/05/what-being-british-mean-interactive
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2012/jan/27/how-european-are-you-quiz
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/feb/05/chastleton-house-cotswolds-panoramic-architecture
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2012/jan/25/europe-migration-eu-interactive
Labels:
B2 vocab,
B2 speaking,
b2 writing,
C1 reading,
C1 speaking
Friday, February 03, 2012
The Guardian's webpage may prove to be a great tool to learn English. I've included a couple of video interview links about music and a few other engrossing videos on a variety of topics.
video interviews (music)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2012/jan/05/al-spx-cold-specks-video
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/jan/04/youssou-n-dour-president-senegal-video
videos (miscelaneous)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2011/dec/26/errol-morris-photography-video?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/jan/23/paul-mason-revolts-capitalist-realism-video
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/jan/23/cell36-aljalame-prison-israel-solitary-confinement-palestinian-children?INTCMP=SRCH
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/video/2011/sep/07/amnesty-tv-write-book-behind-bars-video?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2008/aug/06/albert.maysles?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
video interviews (music)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2012/jan/05/al-spx-cold-specks-video
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/jan/04/youssou-n-dour-president-senegal-video
videos (miscelaneous)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2011/dec/26/errol-morris-photography-video?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/jan/23/paul-mason-revolts-capitalist-realism-video
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/jan/23/cell36-aljalame-prison-israel-solitary-confinement-palestinian-children?INTCMP=SRCH
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/video/2011/sep/07/amnesty-tv-write-book-behind-bars-video?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2008/aug/06/albert.maysles?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
Check out these audioslides. They make brilliant listening and speaking practice material.
audio slides (miscelaneous)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/slideshow/page/0,,2044805,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audioslideshow/2012/jan/16/gil-scott-heron-holiday-martin-luther-king-day
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audioslideshow/2011/nov/24/photographs-beseiged-syrian-homs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/interactive/2011/apr/14/south-africa-photography-audio-slideshow
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/interactive/2011/nov/24/cyra-a-teenage-life-in-care-audio-slideshow
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/audioslideshow/2011/sep/22/faisal-barbers-harlesden-london-audio-slideshow
audio slides (miscelaneous)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/slideshow/page/0,,2044805,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audioslideshow/2012/jan/16/gil-scott-heron-holiday-martin-luther-king-day
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audioslideshow/2011/nov/24/photographs-beseiged-syrian-homs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/interactive/2011/apr/14/south-africa-photography-audio-slideshow
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/interactive/2011/nov/24/cyra-a-teenage-life-in-care-audio-slideshow
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/audioslideshow/2011/sep/22/faisal-barbers-harlesden-london-audio-slideshow
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Here's the TIME magazine vid we didn't have time to check out the other day in class. I'm posting a few other vids you should have a look at.
music
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1313231133001_2101708,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,21552990001_1894785,00.html
cinema
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,795293566001_2052703,00.html
music and vid and tv and all that
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,86967646001_1990937,00.html
music
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1313231133001_2101708,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,21552990001_1894785,00.html
cinema
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,795293566001_2052703,00.html
music and vid and tv and all that
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,86967646001_1990937,00.html
Have you thought about teaching yourself English? If you're into taking a more active role in your learning experience here's a webpage you might go nuts about!
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/lesson-plans
The activities range from A2 to C1 and they are designed to work on different linguistic skills!
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/lesson-plans
The activities range from A2 to C1 and they are designed to work on different linguistic skills!
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Here's some grammar activities that may be quite useful for b1 and b2 students. The first three links are rephrasing exercises.
http://www.box.com/shared/lx5hicgs0i
http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/Use_of_English.htm
http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate/contenidotematico.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/toefl_structure_http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate/contenidotematico.htm1.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/leveltest/index.php
http://www.examenglish.com/ECPE/ecpe_grammar.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/grammar/B1_reported_speech.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/ECCE/ECCE_grammar.htm
http://www.box.com/shared/lx5hicgs0i
http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/Use_of_English.htm
http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate/contenidotematico.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/toefl_structure_http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate/contenidotematico.htm1.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/leveltest/index.php
http://www.examenglish.com/ECPE/ecpe_grammar.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/grammar/B1_reported_speech.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/ECCE/ECCE_grammar.htm
Monday, January 23, 2012
Four juicy interviews from Time Magazine's 10 questions series.
Vigo Mortessen
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1867124,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWexFvaC5n4
Ricky Gervais
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7IEvfd1oXo&feature=relmfu
James Ellroy
http://www.google.es/search?q=10+questions+james+ellroy&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:es-ES:official&client=firefox-a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHseb8JGNyA
Hillary Swank
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2028088,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6X-PyUexZ8
Vigo Mortessen
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1867124,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWexFvaC5n4
Ricky Gervais
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7IEvfd1oXo&feature=relmfu
James Ellroy
http://www.google.es/search?q=10+questions+james+ellroy&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:es-ES:official&client=firefox-a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHseb8JGNyA
Hillary Swank
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2028088,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6X-PyUexZ8
Sunday, December 11, 2011
If you're searching for language conversation partners online. The largest sites are www.mylanguageexchange.com and www.livemocha.com but some other good ones include www.languageexchange.org, www.conversationexchange.com www.sharedtalk.comand www.italki.com
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