Author: Joanna Kawrow

Cockney Rhyming Slang- London’s Famous Secret Language

Cockney Rhyming Slang- London’s Famous Secret Language

Can you Adam and Eve it? Cockney Rhyming slang is without doubt an example of beautiful, creative and hilarious expressions of the English language. Both poetic and utterly strange, Cockney sees a combination of odd phrases used to replace simple every day words. Used since the mid-19th century by hard working class in the East End of London – the Cockneys, after which it is named — it is a treasure to behold. WHAT IS IT? Cockney Rhyming is a form of slang, almost like a code, that is commonly spoken in one area of East London. It involves saying a word, that means another completely dofferent thing just because […]

A funny way to teach Present Continuous with Mr. Bean videos

A funny way to teach Present Continuous with Mr. Bean videos

My students always enjoy this activity, because Mr. Bean is hilarious. I allow them to focus on fluency (not accuracy) and do their best. It’s a fun communicative way to end a grammar lesson on the present continuous/present progressive. Use 1. We use the present continuous when are talking about something happening now, at the same time as we are speaking. 2. We don’t use the present continuous with these verbs: Understand 2a. I don’t understand: correct 2b. I am not understanding: wrong Want 2a. He doesn’t want tea: correct 2b. He is not wanting tea: wrong Like 2a. We like this music: correct 2b. We are liking this music: […]

Kinesthetic game for teaching vocabulary

Kinesthetic game for teaching vocabulary

Are you looking for a fun game to revise items of vocabulary, you have been teaching recently to your students? The “fly swatter game” is one of the best ways to review vocabulary while getting the whole class away from their desks and physically engaging in an activity. The flyswatters and fast pace make this vocabulary game really fun. The game has come from Spain, but it has become frequent game among teachers all over the world! I play this game with young learners, teenagers and adults, and all of them love it! What is a Kinesthetic Learner? Kinesthetic learners are natural doers. They learn best when they discover things […]

Ways to say you are studying or working overnight

泊まり込みで勉強または仕事をしていると言う方法

今や世界の多くの都市には、私たちのクレイジーなスケジュールに対応する24時間営業のスポットがある。洗濯をしたり、深夜に散髪やピザを買いに行ったり、スターバックスでコーヒーを飲んだり、ジムに行ったり。夜更かしをする人、今夜は泊まりがけで仕事をする人、そんなあなたのためにいくつかの表現を紹介しよう：墓場シフトで働いています。夜中まで働いている。夜中まで働いている。徹夜しなければならない。

Three Types of Questions You Should Really Know in English

英語で本当に知っておくべき3種類の質問

A guide to asking questions in English If you want to learn English, try to think like a child again and be as curious as possible. In this friendly guide, I’m going to cover three main types of questions in English that you can use again and again in real life. 1. Yes/No questions This type of question is usually the easiest to ask and answer. ‘Yes/No‘ questions are questions to which the answer is Yes or No We make Yes/No questions by so-called ‘inversion’, which means that we change the order of words in the sentence by putting the the auxialiary verb for example: are, will, had, have before […]

How to Disagree Politely?

How to Disagree Politely?

Conversations about disagreements are hard in any language! Here are some useful English phrases to help… WAYS TO SAY YOU DISAGREE 1) I see things differently. 2) I am on the opposite side of the debate. 3) Our opinions diverge. 4) I beg to differ. 5) And finally, if there’s no chance of agreement, this phrase can help stop a long argument: Thanks for your opinion, but we will have to agree to disagree. If you want to be less direct, you may agree about something first, before moving on to make your point: Although you’re right about that… I agree with that, but… I understand what you’re saying, but… […]

Phrasal verbs with multiple meanings

Phrasal verbs with multiple meanings

Phrasal verbs can be confusing because often there’s more than one meaning. Examples: GIVE AWAY 1. Reveal a secret. It was supposed to be a surprise party but I gave it away by leaving the guest list on the kitchen table. 2. Give something for free. Justina gave away her old furniture to her sister. BRING UP 1. Raise a child. Serhii was born in Belarus but brought up in Russia. 2. Start a topic of conversation. Alicia brought up the subject of marriage again but Giang didn’t want to talk about it. PHRASAL VERBS WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS QUIZ ANSWER: Eugene didn’t need her old clothes any longer, so she […]

A Tricky Verb ‘TO BE’ and Its Usage

A Tricky Verb ‘TO BE’ and Its Usage

The verb ‘to be’ is one of the most common verbs in the English language. It has many different forms in different tenses. Read the text and watch a video showing how some students struggle with using this verb in sentences:) It’s not as easy as it may seem to be.   The verb ‘to be’ in passive sentences The verb ‘to be’ is used together with the third form of the verb (Past Participle form) in passive sentences. For example: ACTIVE: I eat an apple. PASSIVE: The apple is eaten. More examples: People buy cars. –> Cars are bought. ( Present Simple ) Someone turned on the light. –> […]

7 tips to help you with writing exams

7 tips to help you with writing exams

Are you afraid of writing exams? Calm down and watch this video. It might help you to be more confident when sitting your next writing exam. TOP TIPS 1. Try out past exam papers 2.Get feedback and work on it 3.Manage your time 4.Make a plan 5. Answer using the appropriate structure 6. Check what you’ve written 7. GET ENOUGH SLEEP BEFORE WRITING AN EXAM!

It’s a Perfect World – Present Perfect Simple tense

It’s a Perfect World – Present Perfect Simple tense

In English language there is an interesting way of speaking about consequences we can see of events which happened in unspecified past, or life experiences or announcing the news… We use the Present Perfect Simple tense, which works like a bridge, connecting past events, states with the presence:   Use the Present Perfect for: 1) Life experiences in the past. We don’t say when these happened: we are interested in the experience, not the time or date. We often use ever and never. I’ve seen all Tarantino’s films. Have you ever eaten sushi? – Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t. 2) Recent past actions that are important now. Oh […]

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