EFFORTLESS LANGUAGE LEARNING

I am not convinced that hard work and deliberate learning is more effective than taking the easy way.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

Topic: Forms and uses of the present progressive
Level: Intermediate and advanced
This series is designed for upper level students. We will review how each verb tense is formed and used. We will be comparing and contrasting verb tenses as well.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

PREJUDICE

Sometimes you have a biased opinion about something without knowing its facts. The word prejudice basically means A judgment or an opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. Prejudice is a bias, favoring or opposing something based on personal opinions or feelings. It means to pre-judge or to make an assumption before hand about something, without any understanding any actual facts.

You usually judge people because of race, social class, gender, age, political beliefs, religion and many personal characteristics. For example, a manager who is of the opinion that women do not like to travel in their jobs, would not select a woman for a job that requires her to travel. This is because he has a fixed idea without any facts that women do not like to travel. The word prejudice can be a verb or a noun, depending on how it's used in a sentence The verb 'prejudice' has three forms, the present is prejudice, the past is prejudiced and the past participle it is prejudiced.
Example 01 : The salesman at the mall always gets annoyed when he sees children around, he has a prejudice against kids as he feels they are just trouble makers.
Ex 02 : Mary told Peter, " The university that I studied in, has no prejudice and admits students purely on merit basis."
Ex 03 : Samantha has a prejudice against fast food as she feels that they are not only high in calorie but also unhealthy.
Ex 04 : All the bad stories she had heard about the new COO of the company from her colleague, prejudiced Sheila against him even before their first meeting.
Ex 05 : Maria was prejudiced against buying unbranded and lower priced cosmetics even though they were clinically approved. 
Ex 06 : In many countries, women feel troubled as they face prejudice at their work place and are not treated at par with men. 
Ex 07 : Lisa is prejudiced against people women who smoke and drink, as she believes they are bad influencers.
Ex 08 : Samantha told her friend, " Working with an organization that fights racial prejudice is quite challenging." 
Ex 09 : All the employees are prejudice towards Frieda as she is very good looking they always favor her even though she isn't good at her work.

DEPRESSION, THE SECRET WE SHARE

"The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep away from me in that moment." In a talk equal parts eloquent and devastating, writer Andrew Solomon takes you to the darkest corners of his mind during the years he battled depression. That led him to an eye-opening journey across the world to interview others with depression -- only to discover that, to his surprise, the more he talked, the more people wanted to tell their own stories.
Andrew Solomon is a writer on politics, culture and psychology. Full bio »

SIMPLE PRESENT

Forms and uses of the simple present
Level: Intermediate and advanced
This series is designed for upper level students. We will review how each verb tense is formed and used. We will be comparing and contrasting verb tenses as well.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

CATASTROPHE

Sometimes you are faced with a tragedy or a misfortune.The word catastrophe basically means an event resulting in a great loss or a disaster. A bad event that causes a lot of suffering to many people is a catastrophe. It could be a natural calamity such as a storm or an earthquake. So when you describe something as catastrophic, it means that it is very bad or unsuccessful. It is a huge problem you have to deal with.

A sudden violent change in the earth's surface is also known s catastrophe. It also means the final event or a climax in a romance or a drama.As the word catastrophe means an unpleasant event, it is a noun. The word catastrophe is an adjective as it describes something of being disastrous. For example, the Japan earthquake of 2011 was a catastrophe as it claimed lives of many people and left many homeless.

Example 01 : William was the only earning member in his family, his death in a road accident was a catastrophe for his family.
Ex 02 : Peter told his wife, " Lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our children's education."
Ex 03 : The coach told his team players, " This is our last chance, it would be a catastrophe if we didn't qualify for the world cup."
Ex 04 : The quarreling ladies made the whole dinner party a catastrophe.
Ex 05 : The Black Sea is facing an ecological catastrophe as a result of pollution.
Ex 06 : The company's catastrophic losses left the shareholders displeased as they were not entitled to any dividend this year.
Ex 07 : The sinking of the cargo ship was a major catastrophe for the shipping company.
Ex 08 : The heavy rains caused a catastrophic flood in the city leading to massive destruction.
Ex 09 : The catastrophic hurricane left the people helpless and devastated.
Ex 10 : The catastrophic effects of global warming has resulted in changes in the climatic conditions globally.

MAKING PROGRESS

How do we know that we are making progress in our language studies? It so often seems that we are at a standstill. My own benchmark is the number of words that I know. If I see the number increase, I know that I am improving, even if it does not show all the time.

VERB TENSES OVERVIEW

This first lesson is an overview of the verb tenses in English designed for upper level students. This series will review how each verb tense is formed and used. We will be comparing and contrasting verb tenses as well.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

WARY

Sometimes you are cautious about something as you feel it can lead to a problem or danger. The word wary, basically means to be cautious or careful of something. If you are wary of something or someone, you are actually cautious or alert because you do not know much about them and you believe they may be dangerous or cause problems.

So, it means you are very careful and guarded and you are unwilling to trust someone. So when you give someone a wary glance, your face conveys the suspicion and caution that you feel. For example, you are wary of rocks while walking bare foot in the water or you may be wary of driving alone at night on an empty road as you feel it's not safe. As the word wary describes being cautious or careful about something, it is an adjective.
Example 01 : Being her first interview, the new actress was wary of talking to the press media ass he didn't want to disclose about her personal life.
Ex 02 : Due to the recent kidnapping in the neighborhood, mother told little Ben to be wary of strangers on his way back from the high school.
Ex 03 : During the grand sale, the store owner kept a wary eye on all the customers.
Ex 04 : After the unexpected fall in the share market, investors are increasingly wary about investing their money into the stock market.
Ex 05 : Lisa was wary of the stray dog at first, but he seemed friendly, so she walked over to pet him.
Ex 06 : At the railway station, there is a warning board put up that reads, 'Be wary of pick pockets.'
Ex 07 : Maria told her friend, " be wary of emails claiming that you've won a lottery as they are often malicious and contain viruses."
Ex 08 : Being new in the city, Sheila was wary of everything around her and didn't socialize with anyone.
Ex 09 : At the beach, the lifeguard was very wary when he saw the little kids go in the water.
Ex 10 : Father warned his son, " be wary of lending money to Peter, don't trust him too much, he has a bad past record."
Ex 11 : The teacher warily watched the student who was trying to cheat during his exams.
Ex 12 : All his colleagues are wary of speaking with William due to his arrogant attitude and temper.

España es el tercer pais de Europa

en el que menos adultos saben hablar inglés

La estadística sonroja. Es como un profundo aguijón en el orgullo patrio. Solo la mitad de los españoles, un 51 %, en edad de trabajar (de 25 a 64 años) sabe hablar inglés. Aunque también habría que hacer una apreciación, ya que de este porcentaje solo un 19 % es verdaderamente competente en la lengua de Shakespeare, por un 42 % que tiene un nivel bueno y un 40 % que se maneja con alguna que otra dificultad. De entre todos los europeos, solo los húngaros (37 %) y búlgaros (39 %) tienen menos conocimientos de inglés que los españoles. La fotografía que saca a relucir las vergüenzas la ha hecho Eurostat, que ha analizado la situación en los 28 países miembros de la UE, además de en Noruega, Suiza y Serbia.

España está muy lejos de la media, que indica que dos terceras partes de los europeos sabe hablar una lengua extranjera, fundamentalmente el inglés, lo que también supone una puerta fundamental para acceder al mercado laboral. Los españoles están muy lejos del conocimiento que tienen los noruegos (el 96 % habla inglés), daneses (94 %) o eslovenos (92 %), pero tampoco están demasiado cerca de los vecinos portugueses (58 %) y franceses (59 %). (LEER TODO)

PRONUNCIATION OF VOWEL SOUNDS

This video presents three speech samples: American English, British English, and New Zealand English. Listen and compare how three native speakers of three different dialects pronounce the same set of words
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

INHIBIT

Sometimes you can't do something that you are willing to due to many reasons, it could be because you are shy or embarrassed to do it or it could be something that stops or restricts you from doing it. The word inhibit basically means something that prevents oneself from doing something due to their shyness or the fear of facing embarrassment due to some restrictions applied. When you restrain or suppress yourself from behaving in a particular manner or from speaking something, you are holding yourself back, it means you are inhibiting yourself. This could because you are extremely shy or embarrassed.

The action of prohibiting or inhibiting is known as inhibition.
It is a feeling that makes one self conscious and unable to behave in a relaxed and a natural manner. As the word inhibits shows the action of restricting or forbidding, it is a verb. For example, when you are performing on the stage for the first time, you feel very shy, you are inhibited from doing your best. It means, you find it difficult to lose your inhibitions and give it your best shot.

Example 01 : Maria had no inhibitions and spoke boldly about her divorce to her friends.
Ex 02 : The high rate of interest on home loans has inhibited James and Lisa from taking a bank loan to buy a new apartment. 
Ex 03 : After a couple of drinks, William and Peter lost all their inhibitions and started talking and laughing loudly at their friend's party.
Ex 04 : Catherine is on a weight loss program and finds it very difficult to inhibit herself from eating burgers.
Ex 05 : Lack of hospitals and health care centers in the village, inhibited the poor from getting medical facilities whenever they required it.
Ex 06 : Mother told little John, " You shouldn't allow the fear of failure to inhibit you from reattempting your exams."
Ex 07 : To inhibit any further argument, Andrea threatened her son of being locked in a dark room.
Ex 08 : The stern voice of the teacher, inhibits all the students from approaching her when they have any queries.
Ex 09 : Drinking coffee in excess inhibits the absorption of iron from your diet.

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE

IN LANGUAGE LEARNING
People stay with the beginner book or course too long. They think they have to stay with it until they understand it or can remember everything. Forget it. Believe me you will. You will need to keep on going back to the beginner book. In the meantime, get into interesting authentic content. Do it as soon as possible, even if you don't understand it very well. Don't even use graded readers. 

TRIPHTHONG VOWEL SOUNDS

Practice 3 vowel sounds. Also, learn what triphthongs are.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

THE LAST STRAW

You may have dealt with an unpleasant happening for a long time, as things worsened you couldn't accept it any longer.
The last straw is an idiom which basically means the final problem that makes someone lose their temper or patience. If an event that follows a series of bad experiences makes you feel you can't tolerate it anymore and you finally decide to leave it or do something to change it, you call such an event the last straw. It means you are very angry, you've exhausted all your patience and tolerance and you have had enough.

You can no longer put up with it. It is the final irritation that exceeds your capacity of dealing with something that you have been tolerating for a long time. For example, a teacher tolerates her notorious student and keeps warning him, but when he back answers her in front of the whole class, it is the last straw as she no longer has the capacity to deal with him patiently and gets his parents to meet her.
Example 01 : The car that Eric bought last month, had a brake and battery problems, but last week's engine trouble was the last straw and he finally decided to sell the car.
Ex 02 : Richard had been unhappy at work for a long time, the last straw came when he was refused promotion and he finally quit his job.
Ex 03 :Brian had a lot of problems with the hotel service, but when the laundry person messed up with his favorite shirt, it was the last straw and he moved out the next morning.
Ex 04 : An international trade ban could be the last straw for the country's foreign exchange growth rate.
Ex 05 : Gloria compromised being in a troubled marriage for years, when she found out her husband had cheated on her, it was the last straw and she ended her marriage.
Ex 06 : After repeated warnings, Lisa continued reporting late to work, it was the last straw when she absconded without informing, the management fired her from the job.
Ex 07 : The production team had been waiting for the actress on the sets, when she didn't turn up, it was the last straw and they decided to get a new actress on board.
Ex 08 : Mary had always been rude and nasty to William, but it was the last straw when she insulted him at a party, he could no longer accept her behavior.
Ex 09 : Besides being rebellious, Kris was a chain smoker, when father found him returning home drunk late at night, it was the last straw and he wasn't allowed to party for many months.

EL INGLÉS DE LOS POLITICOS GALLEGOS 2

El alcalde de Arteixo, Carlos Calvelo, asume que su nivel es básico y que debería estudiarlo, aunque no encuentra tiempo. También el alcalde de Monforte, Severino Rodríguez, que habla alemán y portugués, considera esencial el manejo de idiomas, y admite que tiene en el inglés una asignatura pendiente. Como el de Pontevedra, Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, que se defiende en francés, pero que en la ponencia que estos días impartió en Múnich, en el congreso Walk21, empleó el castellano, con traducción simultánea al inglés y al alemán.

El de A Coruña, Carlos Negreira, gasta un «nivel básico», aunque no lo habla. Más verdes están los alcaldes de Ourense, Agustín Hernández, y Ribeira, Manuel Ruiz-Rivas. Y el de Lugo, José López Orozco, que exprime los recursos a su alcance: «Aínda que os meus coñecementos de inglés son rudimentarios, fago os esforzos necesarios para comunicarme, e non lle fago ascos nin aos tradutores das novas tecnoloxías nin á mímica se fose necesario». (LEER TODO)

CENTRAL VOWELS 2

Practice 3 vowel sounds.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

CLANDESTINE

Sometimes you are very secretive about a plan that you have in mind. You keep it to yourself for the time being as you wish not to disclose it.The word clandestine basically means something that is planned or done secretly or something that is kept hidden. I'm sure you have certain secrets or keep some things hidden from a group of people. It could be due to various reasons that you wish not to share. When something you do is not officially allowed or not permitted by law, you do it clandestinely. So, it is done in a hush-hush manner, to keep it away from the public eye.

For example, when you have a secret affair and keep it under wraps, it means you have a clandestine affair.As the word clandestine describes something kept that is kept hidden or a secret, it is an Adjective.

Example 01 : Peter and Mary had no choice but to have a clandestine marriage as their parents were against them getting married.
Ex 02 : The clandestine operation undertaken by the police helped them to uncover the white collar thief, who had stolen millions from the company.
Ex 03 : The board of directors were clandestine about the proposal of selling the company to their competitor, they didn't want to upset the employees until things were finalized.
Ex 04 : Michelle and Smith had a clandestine affair at work, as they didn't want their colleagues to know of their relationship. 
Ex 05 : William bribed the traffic officer clandestinely, after he had been caught for jumping the traffic light.
Ex 06 : Shawn told his brother " Shut your mouth! and be clandestine about the surprise party of our parents wedding anniversary".
Ex 07 : The suspicious wife as usual clandestinely overheard her husband's phone conversation and was shocked to know that he was fired from his job.
Ex 08 : Even though Peter was clandestine peter was about his drugs selling business, it came out in open and was finally arrested by the police.
Ex 09 : William was jealous and asked his girlfriend, " what are you clandestine about? These days you are just into your phone messaging somebody all the time".
Ex 10 : At the store, Tina took a clandestine peek at the price on the diamond ring that she had always admired.

THE BEST WAY TO LEARN LANGUAGES

What is the best way to learn languages. I draw on the experience and advice of many and offer my conclusion.

CENTRAL VOWELS 1

Practice 3 vowel sounds.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

PRECARIOUS

Have you ever felt you are in a dangerous or an uncertain situation? The word precarious basically means something that is risky or something that is unstable.When you do something that involves a lot of uncertainty and high risks, it means you are doing something that is precarious. It also means something that is barely hanging on and that is likely to collapse or come down crashing.

For example, If you are an adventurous person, you might do precarious things, that means, you undertake activities that are risky or unsafe. Most road accidents occur due to intoxication, thus drinking and driving is a precarious As the word precarious describes a situation or an act of being risky or dangerous, it is an adjective.

Example 01 : Due to the precarious weather conditions, all the flights were cancelled.
Ex 02 : The precarious drop in the company's share prices at the stock market put the management team in a state of panic and worry.
Ex 03 : The precarious tunnel on the highway resulted in many accidents and is now know as the death tunnel.
Ex 04 : Despite of the best medication given by the doctor, grandmother's health remained precarious.
Ex 05 : Sarah knows that modeling is not just a precarious profession but also a short lived one , still she is determined to pursue it.
Ex 06 : The use of mobile phone at the fuel station is banned, as it's very precarious and may lead to an explosion. 
Ex 07 : Bikers indulge in precarious racing for their passion of bike riding.
Ex 08 : Stock trading is considered as one of the most precarious way of making quick money due to the instability of the share market.
Ex 09 : The window cleaner was hanging in a precarious position on the outer wall when his safety rope snapped.
Ex 10 : The passerby's on the street applauded the little girls precarious act of walking on the strings.
Ex 11 : To earn his livelihood, Bob does the precarious job of an undersea diver.

EL INGLÉS DE LOS POLITICOS GALLEGOS 1

La mayoría de los alcaldes de las principales ciudades se defienden con el inglés. Algunos dicen que lo leen. Y todos manejan con soltura el lenguaje gestual. Pero hablar, lo que se dice hablar, solo lo habla Abel Caballero. El regidor vigués puede presumir de un inglés de bombín, cultivado en las universidades británicas de Cambridge, por la que es doctor en Ciencias Económicas, y de Essex, por la que obtuvo un máster en Economía.

Entre el resto de los alcaldes prima el voluntarismo. El de Santiago, Ángel Currás, ha demostrado soltura para atender a medios extranjeros en inglés, aunque no tenga un dominio completo del idioma. Su homólogo ferrolano, José Manuel Rey, se acoge a la fórmula del «nivel medio», un conocimiento por lo estudiado hasta COU que vale para pedir un café en un aeropuerto, pero no para acreditar el manejo del inglés que se plantea en este reportaje. A esa teoría del uso provechoso de lo aprendido en las aulas se apunta el alcalde de Vilagarcía, Tomás Fole, que dice hacerse entender en sus viajes «al extranjero». El de Narón, José Manuel Blanco Suárez, tiene «nociones suficientes», ironiza, para competir con Ana Botella. (LEER TODO)

BACK VOWELS 2

Practice 4 vowel sounds.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

TO HAVE YOUR HEART IN YOUR MOUTH

Have you ever felt anxious or scared about something and you just don't know what to do?The idiom to have your heart in your mouth basically means to be nervous or scared about something.When you are nervous or scared, your heart starts pounding and there's a choking feeling in your throat, and you actually feel you have your heart in your mouth.

So, when you are extremely anxious about something that may happen, it means you have your heart in your mouth.For example, when your exam result is going to be declared, you are so nervous and anxious that you have your heart in your mouth, this could be because you weren't prepared for your exams and so clearing it is very doubtful.

Example 01 : Little Mary had her heart in her mouth when she had decided to get on the roller coaster at the amusement park. 
Ex 02 : Michelle was so nervous for her first interview that she had her heart in her mouth while she was waiting for her turn. 
Ex 03 : Having bunked most of the lectures in her final year of college, Lisa had her heart in her mouth when she found her name blacklisted on the bulletin board.
Ex 04 : Although Eric was all set with his presentation, he had his heart in his mouth as he was presenting for the first time. 
Ex 05 : The soccer fans had their heart in their mouth while watching a very close match and they couldn't wait to see their favorite team win.
Ex 06 : After the company was declared insolvent , all the employees had their heart in their mouth as their jobs were at stake.
Ex 07 : When Maria's boyfriend introduced her to his grandmother she had her heart in her mouth, as she was not sure if she would be accepted by his family.
Ex 08 : The sisters had their heart in their mouth while watching the horror film at night.
Ex 09 : When Peter was fired from his job, he had his heart in his mouth as he was the only bread winner in his family.

CAN WE LEARN 100 WORDS A DAY ?

BACK VOWELS 1

Practice 4 vowel sounds.
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

CAJOLE

Sometimes, you gently and repeatedly appeal to someone to do something even though they don't want to do it. The word cajole, basically means to persuade someone to do something that they really don't want to do.When you make someone do what you want them to do, by talking nicely, or by persuading them in a pleasing manner and flattering them, it means you are cajoling them.

At times, you actually persuade them by using insincere compliments or by making false promises. For example, You cajole your parents into buying you a car for your birthday, so you persuade them, by pleading them and saying nice things to them and by offering to do better at studies. AS the word cajole shows the action of persuading, it is a verb.

Example 01 : Michelle cajoled her rich friend into lending her a some money, which she never paid back.
Ex 02 : At work, Mary cajoled William into helping her make the sale's presentation as she knew about his great presentation skills.
Ex 03 : Ben cajoled his mother for extra pocket money this month, as he had started saving for his friend's surprise birthday party.
Ex 04: Peter cajoled his wife to sell her ancestral property, so they could buy a huge villa besides the beach.
Ex 05 : After a serious health warning given by the doctor, Jennifer finally cajoled her father to stop smoking.
Ex 06 : Maria told her husband, " You can't cajole me into doing your chores while you sit and watch the final soccer match."
Ex 07 : As Sheila's husband was in a persuasive and favorable mood, she succeeded in cajoling him to buy her a diamond necklace for their anniversary.
Ex 08 : The father had to cajole his son into doing his homework by promising he would take him to watch the baseball game .. 
Ex 09 : As Shimona had exhausted on her vacation leaves, she had to cajole her boss to give her a few extra paid leaves for her sister's wedding.
Ex 10 : The doctor cajoled little Mink into taking an injection, by telling her what a brave girl she was.

MOON CRESTA Y EL INGLES

-Siempre usan el inglés en sus canciones ¿Notan ahora si la gente les entiende mejor?

-Dudo que hoy en día haya más gente que sepa hablar en inglés. Todavía falta recorrido para ello. Dentro del negocio se ha fomentado cierto repudio al rollo anglosajón, y en la calle hay cierto desdén hacia la mala pronunciación de quienes empleamos esta lengua para cantar. Hay gente que se autocondena a repetir que no sirve para el inglés. Habría que pensar si los ingleses ven como un esfuerzo y algo valorable la existencia de gente con distintos acentos. Me gustaría que hubiese la inquietud por saber qué decimos en nuestras letras. (LEER TODO)

FRONT VOWELS 2

Practice 5 vowel sounds
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

ABASHED

Have you ever felt ashamed about something that you have done? Or have you felt embarrassed by a remark made at you? The word abashed basically means to feel ashamed or embarrassed in a situation. When you feel abashed, it means you are ashamed about something you have done or you feel embarrassed when you find yourself in an awkward situation. You actually feel very uneasy and self-conscious when you are ashamed or embarrassed. You don't know what to do or how to react.

When someone is indifferent and doesn't feel ashamed or embarrassed, it means they are unabashed and have no regrets. As the word abashed describes a person of feeling embarrassed or ashamed, it is an adjective.

Example 01 : Mary felt terribly abashed she had entered the men's restroom by mistake.
Ex 02 : The famous actress was totally abashed when she found the media outside her mansion, after the new of her affair with a co-actor was public.
Ex 03 : The financial projection and marketing plan failed miserably, abashing all the executives who had supported it.
Ex 04 : Suzan was speechless and abashed when Peter told her that she had gained too much weight and needed to get back in shape.
Ex 05 : I was abashed in front of my date last night, when I realized I didn't have enough money to pay for the dinner.
Ex 06 : When the Manager made an unusual physical advances at Michelle, she just remained totally abashed and didn't know how to react.
Ex 07 : At the meeting, when the manager mentioned about everyone's Salary raise except Williams, it left him feeling very abashed.
Ex 08 : Mother told her daughter, " I can't believe you cheated on your exam! I'm really abashed by you!
Ex 09 : One should be simply abashed to ask a question that could so easily be answered with a simple Google search.

LOS 7 SECRETOS DEL APRENDIZAJE 7

FRONT VOWELS 1

Practice 5 vowel sounds. 
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

PERTURB

Sometimes you are disturbed by something told to you, or you are worried about something.The word 'perturb' means to be disturb or to worry about something. When you are perturbed, it means you that you are very worried about something that has happened or will happen.You are agitated or in a confused state of mind and you actually feel very upset about something.

So when you are anxious due to something that has happened, you are perturbed. As the word perturb shows the action of disturbing or being upset, it is a verb. For example, your friend's ill health perturbs you, that means you are very worried about it and the situation she is in upsets you very much.

Example 01 : The rumors of the riot spread like wildfire and perturbed the smooth order of the town, leaving deserted streets. 
Ex 02 : The mother was really perturbed , When she found a cigarette packet in her daughter's bedroom.
Ex 03 : William was perturbed after he observed Mary's lack of interest in continuing their relationship, as he couldn't figure out the reason.
Ex 04 : The extortion calls received by Peter had perturbed him, he finally decided to report the matter to the cops.
Ex 05 : The warning of the expected hurricane perturbed the people as they had to evacuate the city at their earliest to the safety camp.
Ex 06 : Andy was perturbed to get a huge salary cut even though he achieved his sales target this month.
Ex 07 : Hurry's rude and disruptive behavior after being drunk at the picnic perturbed his wife.
Ex 08 : Maria told her friend, "My obesity issue perturbs me and I lack confidence in all I do."
Ex 09 : Little shawn was indifferent to his mothers's warnings and nothing seemed to perturb him.
Ex 10 : Suzan was perturbed by the news that her father was terminally ill, she immediately flew down to be with him.

GALICIA CANTA EN INGLÉS

Numerosas bandas gallegas emplean el idioma inglés
Son muchos los grupos gallegos que, a menudo, deben dar explicaciones por el uso que hacen del idioma inglés en sus canciones. Desde la sonoridad hasta la proyección internacional que proporciona, se abre un amplio abanico de respuestas que ofrecen grupos de largo recorrido como Niño y Pistola, Soul Jacket o Thee Tumbitas.

«Cantamos en inglés porque no sabemos cantar en chino», llegó a decir uno de los integrantes del grupo vigués Cat People, quizá harto de responder a aquella pregunta. Este uso idiomático no se ciñe a un estilo determinado. Desde el rockabilly de Doctor Gringo, al lirismo de Jane Joyd, pasando por el hard rock de los pontevedreses The Grave Dolls, todos han elegido el idioma oficial del Reino Unido para expresar su creatividad artística. (LEER TODO)

PRONUNCIATION OF VOWEL SOUNDS

Introduction
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

AVID

There are certain activities that you take keen interest in, or you may have a strong desire for something.The word avid basically means to be very eager or interested in doing something. If you do something avidly, you do it with great enthusiasm. When you are avid about something, it is usually in reference to an activity which you really enjoy doing.

For example, someone who talks only about sports is an avid sports fan, or someone may be an avid philatelist because he is interested in collecting stamps from all over the world. It also means to have a strong craving or a greed for something, like a person can be avid for success. As the word avid describes someone to be interested in or enthusiastic about something, it is an adjective.

Example 01 : Mr. Roy is contemplating retirement next year as he hasn't been keeping well for a long time.
Ex 02 : Samantha told her William, " Thank you for offering help, I contemplated doing the project myself, but it would have taken too long to complete it."
Ex 03 : When Smith was contemplating a new business, he consulted competent legal, finance and tax advisors to ensure the viability of his venture.
Ex 04 : The class was learning about caterpillars and their transformation into butterflies, but Lisa couldn't contemplate how they could change into completely different things.
Ex 05 : As Samantha was contemplating a change in job, her boss offered her a raise, to avoid any brain drain.
Ex 06 : Maria contemplated the result of her class test, thinking what had gone wrong and how she could do better the next time. 
Ex 07 : Aunt Lucy stared into the mirror for a long time, contemplating the wrinkles on her face.
Ex 08 : To support his family, Alex contemplated leaving the high school and taking up a full time job at the hotel. Ex 09 : Richard contemplated buying a second hand car for his daughter on her birthday.
Ex 10 : Little Angel couldn't contemplate the meaning of the poem and asked his mother for help.

LOS 7 SECRETOS DEL APRENDIZAJE 6

Adquirir las herramientas

OBJECT PRONOUNS

(me, you, him, her, it, us, them)
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

CONTEMPLATE

Have you ever thought about something very seriously or deeply? It could be to arrive at a decision or to analyze a problem. The word 'contemplate' basically means to look at something thoughtfully and attentively or to think about something very seriously. If you contemplate an action, you actually think whether to do it or not and you ponder over it for a long time. It also means you consider doing something or consider the possibility of something happening.

As the word contemplate shows the action of thinking or looking at something attentively, it is a verb. For example, when you are in college, you contemplate your future goals, that means you think about your career very seriously by analyze various options. Okay, now that you know what contemplate means, let's take a look at some example sentences to see how you can use it in your daily conversation.
Example 01 : Mr. Roy is contemplating retirement next year as he hasn't been keeping well for a long time.
Ex 02 : Samantha told her William, " Thank you for offering help, I contemplated doing the project myself, but it would have taken too long to complete it."
Ex 03 : When Smith was contemplating a new business, he consulted competent legal, finance and tax advisors to ensure the viability of his venture.
Ex 04 : The class was learning about caterpillars and their transformation into butterflies, but Lisa couldn't contemplate how they could change into completely different things.
Ex 05 : As Samantha was contemplating a change in job, her boss offered her a raise, to avoid any brain drain.
Ex 06 : Maria contemplated the result of her class test, thinking what had gone wrong and how she could do better the next time. 
Ex 07 : Aunt Lucy stared into the mirror for a long time, contemplating the wrinkles on her face.
Ex 08 : To support his family, Alex contemplated leaving the high school and taking up a full time job at the hotel.
Ex 09 : Richard contemplated buying a second hand car for his daughter on her birthday.
Ex 10 : Little Angel couldn't contemplate the meaning of the poem and asked his mother for help.

¿ CUÁNTO SABE DE INGLÉS ?

«Vía V» sale a la calle para comprobar el nivel de inglés de los gallegos.

REWIEW OF QUESTIONS

(Question word order vs. statement word order)
De : "ENGLISH WITH JENNIFER" A site for language learners.

LETHARGIC

Sometimes you feel very tired and dull, you just don't feel like doing anything. The word lethargic basically means to lack enthusiasm due to laziness or to be low on energy and feel totally dull. When you feel lethargic, you feel as if all your energy has been drained out, you are unwilling to do anything and wish to sleep. You are unresponsive, inactive and indifferent to things around you. So, the one who is lethargic is lacking in mental and physical alertness. Many medicines have the side effect of making you feel lethargic, that means they make you feel very sluggish and lazy, and you actually feel very weak. As the word lethargic describes the state of being lazy and dull, it is an adjective.

Example 01 : The turtles become sluggish and lethargic when their body temperature drops in the winter season.
Ex 02 :The star player had to be pulled out from the team because he seemed to be lethargic for the important game.
Ex 03 : People who smoke are generally lethargic, as smoking starves the tissues and brain for oxygen, leaving you to feel dull and disoriented.
Ex 04 : Maria refuses to take any medicine for her cold because any medications makes her feel drowsy and lethargic.
Ex 05: Due to her depression, Lisa was lethargic and failed to complete her household chores, the entire day she simply lazed about on the couch.
Ex 06 : After waking up from surgery, the patient felt very weak and lethargic because of the anesthesia.
Ex 07 : After the late night party, the next day, Peter was so lethargic that he didn't go to work and lied on the sofa the whole day.
Ex 08 : James avoided having a heavy meal before his presentation as he didn't want to feel lethargic while presenting at the conference.
Ex 09 : Smith was fired from his job due to his continuous lethargic approach and inefficiency in his work.
Ex 10 : Richard was so lethargic even after a good sleep, that he went to see his doctor to find out what was wrong.

LOS 7 SECRETROS DEL APRENDIZAJE 5

Ser paciente

WOULD YOU LIKE ?

(POLITE REQUESTS AND INVITATIONS)
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EFFACE

There are many things that you have done in the past which you would never like to remember or acknowledge.The word efface basically means, to wipe out or to make something disappear. So when you try to erase something from your mind, it means you are effacing it. It also means to make oneself appear insignificant, by not drawing any attention to it. You can efface things that are not physical, like efface memories and feelings. When physical elements like an old coin is effaced, it means it is worn out. For example, when someone hurts you, you choose to forgive and forget to efface all the bad memories. As the word shows the action of erasing or wiping out something, it is a verb.

Example 01: After returning from a bad day at work, Michelle's anger was effaced when she saw her children playing games on the laptop.
Ex 02: The college students used scrub brushes and white spray paint to efface the graffiti on the wall.
Ex 03: To efface the bad memories of her marriage, Lisa left the town and migrated to Canada to start life afresh after her divorce.
Ex 04: While reading the story book, the innocent child asked her mother, "Mom, do you think good deeds can efface our past sins?"
Ex 05: A regular coat of Teflon prevents the surface of the cars paint from effacing and keeps it sparkling new.
Ex 06: All high end cosmetic brands have introduced beauty balms, in an attempt to efface blemishes and scars on the face. 
Ex 07: Peter couldn't efface the guilt from his conscience after cheating n his wife, he kept thinking about it.
Ex 08: Sarah had to undergo plastic surgery to efface all the burnt marks caused by the mishap that had taken place in her kitchen.
Ex 09: After committing the crime the murderer effaced all the evidence, leaving the investigation team helpless and clueless.

ENVIA TUS DUDAS

Inglés paso a paso con Vaughan
Un profesor de Vaughan responderá en este consultorio todas las preguntas que te surjan durante el proceso de aprendizaje. Sea cual sea tu nivel, paso a paso.
HAZ CLICK SOBRE EL CARTEL INFERIOR :

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE QUESTIONS

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PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH

Have you ever gone out of your way to save a few bucks by making a compromise and later land up spending a huge amount due to your foolishness? The idiom 'penny wise and pound foolish' basically means to save a little money, only to lose a greater amount due to your own foolishness. A penny is a small amount and a pound is a larger amount, so you are wise with a small amount but foolish and wasteful with larger amounts. It also means you are over careful about unimportant and small matters and careless about important ones.

You realize that in the process of being stingy about small expenditures, you eventually spend more than you actually saved. For example, if you save a few hundred bucks by not hiring a tax accountant to review complicated matters, you are penny wise and pound foolish as you ultimately land up paying a huge penalty amount. Okay, now that you know what this idiom means, let's take a look at some example sentences to see how you can use it in your daily conversation.
Example 01: A penny wise and pound foolish Mike bought himself an expensive tuxedo suit even though he didn't need it, but is still thinking whether to buy a much needed pair of shoes. 
Ex 02: Jennifer was penny wise and pound foolish as she bought cheaper vegetables at a whole sale price, only to be thrown as they were spoilt.
Ex 03: The manager realized he was penny wise and pound foolish when he hired undergraduates in order to save the operating cost of the company.
Ex 04: Samantha told her friend, "Neglecting your cavities to save money will certainly lead to a root canal which would be far more expensive, so don't be penny wise and pound foolish" 
Ex 05 : Sheela was penny wise and pound foolish when she made her husband drive to six different stores to get the best bargains on her groceries, eventually she spent more on fuel than the benefits she got.
Ex 06: Being a handy man, William tried to fix the leaking faucet and broke it, he was penny wise and pound foolish, as he had to replace the faucet, pipe and pay the plumber as well.
Ex 07: I sold my good motorcycle and purchased a second-hand car that is giving me endless problems; it was too late to realize that it was a penny-wise and pound foolish decision.
Ex 08: The Government's education budget cuts are penny-wise and pound foolish, as public education is an investment towards the nation's future.
Ex 09: Mary told her husband, "We've worked so hard to save money, if we took a vacation now it would be penny wise and pound foolish.

LOS 7 SECRETOS DEL APRENDIZAJE 4

El vocabulario es más importante que la gramática.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE NEGATIVE

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NOSTALGIC

When you recall your college days, you feel happy because it brings back good memories and sadness as those days no longer exist. The word nostalgic basically means to be sentimental and cherish the good times in the past.If you feel nostalgic, you think affectionately about an experience you had in the past and wish things had not changed. It is the good feeling you get when you remember your past. You sit back, smile and think to yourself, wow that was fun or happy.

So, it is a longing desire to go back to a sentimental place, time or to a person's company that always made you happy. It could also mean the state of being homesick or a longing for home. For example, when you are away from home, you become homesick as you miss your family and you become nostalgic about returning to your home. As the word nostalgic describes the feeling of being happy or sad simultaneously, it is an adjective.
Example 01: When Samantha was at the cafe with her ex-colleagues, she felt nostalgic while speaking about their happy and fun days at work.
Ex 02: Peter felt extremely nostalgic while listening to old romantic songs; it reminded him of his good old days with his girlfriend.
Ex 03: When David visited his village after many years, he became nostalgic as he missed his school days and the simple lifestyle.
Ex 04: Maria felt nostalgic when she saw wooden toys, handicrafts and colorful dolls at the exhibition, as they were her favorite possessions in her childhood days. 
Ex 05 : While the young girls attempted their first baking and made cookies, it brought them nostalgic memories of their grandmother's kitchen.
Ex 06 : After reading her son's email, the nostalgic mother wept as she longed to be with her son who was studying overseas. 
Ex 07 : At the park, when the old man saw little children on the tire swing, he felt very nostalgic.
Ex 08 : While addressing the marketing staff, the manager spoke nostalgically about her first job experience as a salesgirl. 
Ex 09 : During the concert, the band struck up nostalgic music and took the audience back in the aura of 1950's.
Ex 10: Away from the family, Jenifer felt nostalgic while opening the Christmas gifts sent by her family.

ANA BOTELLA HABLA EN INGLÉS

Ana Botella defiende en inglés la candidatura de Madrid a los juegos olímpicos ante el COI en Buenos Aires:
Con un acento marcadamente español, se nota que Ana habrá repetido muchísimas veces este discurso hasta aprenderselo de memoria.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE AFFIRMATIVE

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REPERCUSSION

You may have done something and faced a serious consequence of your action. The word repercussion mainly means a negative effect caused by the action of something or someone.If an action or an event has repercussions, it causes unpleasant things to happen. Such effects are unwelcomed and may continue for a long period of time.It is an effect or a result of something done.It could also mean a reflection of a sound. For example, inflation can have serious long term repercussions on a country's economy.
Example 01 : William advised Peter, " Cheating on your spouse will have serious repercussions on your marriage."
Ex 02 : The manager realized that his harsh words had serious repercussions on the morale of his employees. They could no longer work efficiently.
Ex 03 : The earthquake had adverse repercussions on the nation, it left people homeless and jobless.
Ex 04 : The decrease in wild life could have repercussions on the local Tourism and foreign exchange of the country.
Ex 05 : Severe hair loss are some of the repercussions faced by the patients, who undergo chemotherapy to fight cancer.
Ex 06 : When John suddenly quit his job, it had repercussions on his team members as they had to take additional responsibility and work over time.
Ex 07 : To be locked in her room was the repercussion Jenny had to face for her bad and arrogant behavior at the party last night.
Ex 08 : Maria couldn't walk out of her disastrous marriage as it would have painful repercussions on her children.
Ex 09 : The oil spill due to an accident at the high sea had serious repercussions on the aquatic life.

LOS 7 SECRETOS DEL APRENDIZAJE 3

Hay que descubrir el idioma por su mismo. Por eso hay que cultivar la capacidad de estar atento a lo que está sucediendo en el idioma.

DAILY ROUTINE

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INDISPENSABLE

There are certain things that are very important in your life, and you actually feel incomplete without them, you just can't exempt them from your life. The word indispensable basically means something that is absolutely important, essential and necessary for you. So when you can't stay without something in your life, it means it is indispensable to you.When you say that someone or something is indispensable, you mean that they are essential part of your life, and you can't function without them. They play a very vital role in your life.
For example, a mother is an indispensable part of her child's life. The children totally dependent on her for their meals and for taking overall care of them. When they don't see her around, they feel lost as they can't do without her. As the word indispensable describes the importance of a thing or person in your life, it is an adjective.
Example 01 : Today, we cannot imagine life without computers and mobile phones, they have become indispensable tools of our daily lives. Today, We cannot imagine life without computers and mobile phones, they have become indispensable tools of our daily lives.
Ex 02 : Julie became an indispensable nanny to little Ben's life, as his parents were busy making a living.
Ex 03 : In two years of their courtship period, Samantha became indispensable to Christopher, he couldn't imagine life without her.
Ex 04 : The government has provided free basic education to poor women, as it is indispensable to get a decent job.
Ex 05 : While learning a new language, a dictionary is considered as an indispensable possession.
Ex 06 : After achieving the sales target one more time, the boss told Peter, " You are an indispensable asset to this company."
Ex 07 : Inhalers are indispensable to all asthmatic patients and are required to be carried around in case of an emergency.
Ex 08 : Father told his impatient young son, " Hard work and patience are indispensable qualities to be successful in life."
Ex 09 : Credit cards are indispensable to carry out online business transactions.
Ex 10 : Ample of parking space is indispensable for the success of any departmental store or a shopping mall.

THE VOICES IN MY HEAD

To all appearances, Eleanor Longden was just like every other student, heading to college full of promise and without a care in the world. That was until the voices in her head started talking. Initially innocuous, these internal narrators became increasingly antagonistic and dictatorial, turning her life into a living nightmare. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, hospitalized, drugged, Longden was discarded by a system that didn't know how to help her.

Longden tells the moving tale of her years-long journey back to mental health, and makes the case that it was through learning to listen to her voices that she was able to survive. Eleanor Longden overcame her diagnosis of schizophrenia to earn a master’s in psychology and demonstrate that the voices in her head were “a sane reaction to insane circumstances
BIOGRAFIA : Eleanor Longden

TELLING TIME

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FOSTER

Have you ever promoted something or tried to develop something new, like a business or a plan? The word foster mainly means to encourage or promote something. When you encourage the development of a new idea, it means you are fostering it. for example, when you help your company's new campaign to grow, you are fostering it. The word foster also means looking after someone else's child without legal adoption. So if you foster a child, you act as a guardian and play a vital role in his growth. As a foster parent, you ensure the safety, permanency and well being of the child.
Example 01 : Unhygienic conditions in your neighborhood can foster the spread of various viral diseases.
Ex 02 : Mary asked Janet, "for the love of animals, would you consider fostering stray dogs?"
Ex 03 : The task of an English teacher is to foster speaking in English to all the vernacular students.
Ex 04 : Appreciating your employees helps them to foster a sense of self worth and motivates them to perform better. 
Ex 05 : Maria told her husband, " You bake really well, if you must foster your hobby you will run a successful bakery business ".
Ex 06 : Mrs. Smith have fostered many homeless children and provided for their education.
Ex 07 : The UNO aims to foster good relations amongst various countries and maintain world peace.
Ex 08 : The manager called for a meeting to foster new ideas from the young trainees for the promotion of his new ad campaign.
Ex 09 : The new fitness club fosters a healthy lifestyle through exercising regularly and a healthy balanced diet. 
Ex 10 : Lack of security on deserted streets can foster anti social activities to take place such as robbery or theft.

LOS 7 SECRETOS DEL APRENDIZAJE 2

Si el estudio del idioma te da placer, vas a tener éxito.

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS

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ENDEAVOR

When you want to achieve something, you always put in a lot of effort. You strive until you succeed. The word endeavor basically means to try hard to achieve something. It could also mean an attempt to accomplish a goal. When you make an effort to do something new or difficult, it means you endeavor to do it. So when you endeavor to do something, you actually try very hard to do it. For example, when you constantly endeavor to start a new business, you exert yourself and put in all the efforts that are required to accomplish it.
Example 01 : After the mother scolded them, John and Mary endeavored to keep their room neat and tidy.
Ex 02 : When William quit his job to start a new business, all his colleagues wished him luck in his new endeavor.
Ex 03 : The police made every endeavor to find the kidnapped child and arrested the kidnapper.
Ex 04 : The manager told his subordinates, "Tomorrow the meeting is at 11am, please endeavor to come on time".  
Ex 05 : It's important to be updated with the latest computing technology, as it is the fastest changing area of human endeavor.
Ex 06 : Lisa looked stunning on her date with Peter, she attracted his attention without any endeavor.
Ex 07 : Ben was very unhappy as all his endeavors to stand first in the examination had gone unrewarded.
Ex 08 : All the children looked curiously at the magician when he endeavored to make the rabbit disappear.
Ex 09 : The Emergency breakdown service center endeavors to respond to customer complaints within 2-3 hrs . 
Ex 10 : The reliance Industry is flourishing because of all the endeavors made by the late Mr. Dirubhai Ambani.

IDIOMS 19 - 18 th CENTURY EXPRESSIONS

PRONUNCIATION OF "THE"

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TO BE TICKLED PINK

You may have been very happy due to something or someone. It could be due to your promotion or a surprise gift given to you by your family.The idiom 'tickled pink' basically means to be very pleased or delighted.When you are really excited about something, due to the extreme happiness, your skin turns pink, as though you are blushing. This is because you are tickled pink.To be tickled pink means to be delighted about something, or to be in a state of excitement and joy.When you tickle someone pink, it means you do something to make them happy or pleased.For example, you pay a surprise visit to your best friend on her birthday to tickle her pink.
Example 01 : Mary was tickled pink to receive a bouquet of flowers from John on her birthday.
Ex 02 : William was tickled pink when he was awarded the best salesman of the year as he least expected it.
Ex 03 : To make the stressful moment lighter at work, Michelle told a joke that really tickled all her colleagues pink.
Ex 04 : Little Lydia was tickled pink when Samantha asked her to be the bridesmaid at her wedding.
Ex 05 : The public were tickled pink when the $2500 budget car Nano was launched in the city, it was a dream come true for them as it was really affordable.
Ex 06 : My mother tickled pink when I invited my girlfriend Rosy to join us at the Christmas lunch.
Ex 07 : The teenagers were tickled pink when they saw their favorite rock band perform at the concert.
Ex 08 : Jennifer was so tickled pink when the doctor broke the news of her pregnancy, she couldn't wait to share the joy with her husband.
Ex 09 : Jenny was tickled pink when she saw Christopher waiting to receive her at the airport as she hadn't seen him in many years.
Ex 10 : The declaration of 20 % bonus to all the share holders of the company, tickled them pink.
Ex 11 : When James complimented his girlfriend and expressed how lucky he was to have her, she was extremely tickled pink as he did so for the first time.

LOS 7 SECRETOS DEL APRENDIZAJE 1

Parece banal, pero para tener éxito, hay que dedicar tiempo al idioma.

THE LIVING ROOM

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ENDURE

You must have suffered silently because of some pain in your life without anyone knowing about it. The word endure mainly means, to be in pain or a difficulty, facing it alone and without anyone's knowledge.When you tolerate someone or something such as violence, abuse or something that is unpleasant, you are enduring it without any opposition.So when you endure a painful or a difficult situation, you undergo the suffering and do not give up, but rather face and withstand it with courage.To Endure could also mean to continue or to last. If something endures, it continues to exist, like an old ancient building or a king's legacy. For example, after the loss of an evergreen super star, the memory of her great acting endures.
Example 01 : Mary quit her job because she had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks from her colleagues.
Ex 02 : The ancient buildings in our city have endured for centuries.
Ex 03 : The soldiers of the special task force endured hardship during their training, to become one of the best emergency response forces.
Ex 04 : In winters Samantha couldn't endure the cold, and always sat near the fire place.
Ex 05 :Don Bradman's cricketing legacy will always be endured by all the cricketers for years to come.
Ex 06 : The students slept away in their Economics lecture as they couldn't endure their professor for too long.
Ex 07 : The beggar had not eaten for forty eight hours, he could no longer endure the misery of his hunger.
Ex 08 : A customer service executive has to endure various types of customers without being impolite to maintain good business relations with them.
Ex 09 : The people on the boat had no option but to endure the harsh waves caused due to the stormy weather and wait until the weather settles.
Ex 10 : William endured the pain of his injured knee and finished the race.