How to sound like a native speaker that is another question!
Today we are going to learn how to pronounce -ed endings, one of the most difficult things Spanish speakers find when approaching verbs pronunciation in English.
Before we get into any set of boring rules, let´s watch this video on how to practise the pronunciation of -ED endings with 12 famous songs:
Let´s watch a quick video to make sure you understood:
Need some more practice? Try pronouncing these verbs in the video:
How about practising connected speech? That is the way native speakers link words to speak more efficiently and pronounce sentences with rhythm and intonation:
Would you like to learn the amazing secret of English rhythm?!! Listen to Jade Joddle (a speaking skills coach) explain a few tricks!
Let´s learn a few more tricks! Perfect English! - Speak faster and more naturally with connected speech:
Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition
Phrasal verbs help us sound more natural in English as they are used in everyday conversation. Sometimes they can be a bit of a nightmare, specially when we need to learn how to use them in an appropriate context!
GET is one of the most commonly used verbs with a preposition. Check out this video to see how many of these expressions you already know!!
Native speakers very often use phrasal verbs when they want to express their mood and feelings. Let´s listen to Emma explaining verbs for when you get angry:
Would you like to learn some of the most common verbs used when travelling? Emma explains some of them in this very useful video:
We are going to read a story and find examples of phrasal verbs with very different meanings:
Looking up Peter in Seatle:
Last week I was in Seattle and I remembered that my friend Peter had recently moved there. I looked up his name in the telephone book, called, but got the answering machine. Luckily, I finally found him at work. He was looking at a picture on his desk, and I swear he looked like the famous actor Harrison Ford! I know Peter looked up to Harrison Ford, but I was a little surprised to see that he had become a look-alike! I said 'Look lively!' and he raised his eyes and looked me up and down. 'Hello! if it isn't my old friend Ken!', Peter said. With that, he got up, looked me up and down and shook my hand.
I must admit, Peter didn't look his age in the slightest. In fact, he looked as if he was ten years older! I looked him straight in the eye and said, "Well, I was in town and thought I'd look in on you to see how you're doing in Seattle. How have you been?" Peter responded that he was fine, but that he was also on the look out for a new cat. Looking over at the picture, I noticed that it was of a cat. "Yes, he sighed, I didn't really look after my first cat very well. It ran away." "I'm sorry to hear that", I said.
We talked for a while and decided to go out for a coffee. We were at a Starbucks when a beautiful woman walked into the Cafe. Peter quickly looked the other way. "Who's she?", I asked. "Nobody, just someone who looks down their nose at me." Just then somebody shouted "Look out!" Peter jumped up and pushed the woman hard. At first, she looked daggers at him. Then, realizing what had happened, she noticed that because Peter had been looking lively, she hadn't slipped on a ice coffee drink that was all over the floor. I'm glad I looked Peter up, it certainly was an interesting day...
Phrasal Verbs with 'Look'
Finding Someone or Something Look up
1) look for information in a reference book I looked up his name in the telephone book, called, but got the answering machine.
2) to find someone I'm glad I looked Peter up, it certainly was an interesting day.
Look in on someone
visit someone at their home or place of work, check up on someone I was in town and thought I'd look in on you to see how you're doing in Seattle.
Be on the look out for
Trying to find something or someone, interested in purchasing something
Look up to someone
respect or admire someone I know Peter looked up to Harrison Ford.
Look someone up and down
Examine someone carefully, look at someone very carefully, often with disdain With that, he got up, looked me up and down and shook my hand.
Look someone straight in the eye
Look at someone with seriousness I looked him straight in the eye...
Expressions of Looking at People or Things Look over at
To look in the direction of something Looking over at the picture, I noticed that it was of a cat.
Look the other way
Look away from something that you see, not notice something on purpose Peter quickly looked the other way.
Look down your nose on / at someone
Feel superior to someone ...someone who looks down their nose at me.
Look daggers at someone
Look with hatred or intense dislike at someone At first, she looked daggers at him.
Look after
Take care of something or someone I didn't really look after my first cat very well. It ran away.
Appearances Look like
Be similar in physical appearance ... he looked like the famous actor Harrison Ford! Look your age
Appear to be your actual age (someone can look older, or younger than their age) I must admit, Peter didn't look his age in the slightest.
Warnings Look out!
Be careful Look out! Look lively!
Pay attention ...she noticed that because Peter had been looking lively, she hadn't slipped on a ice coffee drink...
TOP 10 PHRASAL VERBS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR FLUENCY IN ENGLISH FROM GO NATURAL ENGLISH:
Let´s start by learning some basic political vocabulary with Adam:
In English it is just polite to ask the other person or people you are with, if it is OK to talk about politics. Watch this video by Gabby from "Go Natural English" to understand some basic concepts:
Let´s now watch a short video on how US elections work:
We are going to focus on the pronunciation of some of the key words we have seen. Watch this video by "Go Natural English" to get some tips on pronunciation:
Follow this link to learn more about the role of "swing states" in the election
Larry Ferlazzo is a Education specialists who suggests in his blog different resources to work the issue of the day after the American Presidential Election. Have a look and discuss how useful they could be in a class in the USA or in any other classroom where English is taught.
This is the link to his blog that I strongly recommend!
In this entry we will listen and study in detail some of the most famous songs by Bob Dylan as a way to appreciate English language through music and learn new vocabulary and expessions.
But first of all let´s debate: Did he, in your opinion, deserve a Nobel Prize?
Bob Dylan has won the 2016 Nobel prize in literature, says the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Sara Danius. Announcing the award she says Dylan ‘created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition’. He is the first songwriter to win the award and the first American to win since Toni Morrison in 1993.
Read this article published in The Guardian newspaper where you can find the lyrics of some of his most famous songs.
The New York Times also published a whole lesson plan about Bob Dylan. Follow the link to complete the activities.
LIKE A ROLLING STONE
This song was released as a single in 1965 and then included on the album Higway 61 Revisited in the same year. It lasts over six minutes and it´s probably Dylan´s most influential song- in 2004, Rolling Stones magazine declared "Rolling Stones" the greatest song of all times, "No other pop song has so thoroughly challenged and transformed the comercial laws and artistic convections of its time" (www.tuneintoenglish.com)
Let´s start by introducing ourselves and saying at least one reason why you want to do this course:
I want to speak English!!
Conversation questions:
Should everyone learn English?
Why are you studying English?
In your experience, what studying methods are
most effective for you?
What accent do you find easiest to understand?
Are English movies in your country shown with
subtitles or are they dubbed?
If you could speak English perfectly, how would
your life change? Watch this video by Professor David Crystal talking about the future of English as a language and be prepared to have a discussion afterwards:
Will English continue to be the global language that it is now?
Follow this link to discuss some quotes about why learning languages. They are the words of very influential people who bring forward some of the best reasons to learn a language.
These quotes remind us of how languages open up our minds to a variety of opportunities in diferrent cultures and countries.
So, what is your reason?
Let´s now listen to a new video where professor David Crystal talks about "World Englishes". What does he mean by that?
We have travelled around the world in the previous topic and now we are going to learn how to speak in English about foods, eating and foods from the world!
- What did you have for breakfast this morning? - Do you always have time to eat what you want for breakfast? - Has what you eat for breakfast changed over the years? - What do you do while having breakfast? - Do you watch "breakfast televisión"? - Do you prefer to eat breakfast alone or with other people? - Do you ever eat breakfast in a restaurant or canteen? - Is the breakfast you usually eat healthy? - How often do you skip breakfast or have it on the go? -Can you eat "lunch-style food" or "dinner-style food" for breakfast? -What do you think of breakfast at hotels? -What is the origin of the word breakfast?
Watch Emma from EngVid to remember what a phrasal verb is and how native speakers use them to talk about food:
Now that you are familiar with a wide range of food vocabulary, listen to the words and sounds of this fantastic lesson by Rob from BBC Learning English.
Listen to Rob in his kitchen preparing a fry-up. See if you can hear what ingredients he uses and also what words he uses that include sounds that are similar to the noises the words refer to. These words are examples of onomatopoeia. There are 16 to listen out for.
Is your stomach rumbling? Are you ready to learn more Eating vocabulary?
Ready to look at some recipes from around the world?
Follow this link to BBC Good Food to discover wonderful food from around the world.
