Again, still another techno-tool to help you with your studies. This blog is "work-in-progress" , which means that things are added and removed on a regular basis. Here you'll find extra-reading, extra-listening, extra-grammar stuff, extra writing tips... extra-everything, so it's up to you what you do with it. Needless to say, your feedback, ideas, and comments are very welcome.

*This blog is 'apture-powered', which means that if you highlight a word, a 'learn more' sign will theoretically appear. Click on it and it will show a list of internet links related to that word. Just try.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Blah, blah, blah...



How can I improve my spoken English? This video is more inspirational than practical, but it goes to the core question of 'dancing' with your partners rather than 'monologuing' or producing 'memorised' sentences that 'the teacher will like' (ahem...). Below you'll find some more tips that you'll have to adapt to your own habits (like talk to yourself). You'll see that language skills are obviously connected and part of a whole - the time invested in reading, listening, writing, and working on gr...ooops ...sorry 'use of English' will sure contribute to your speaking skills-and vice versa.
- E.How , more EHow
- English at home
- Learning tips ( tips n.2,3,5,6,13 particularly interesting)

And a very important one: KISS (Keep It Short and Simple), which means DON'T get entangled in your own story -generally because you wanted to translate it word by word from your mother tongue. You don't need to do this. You know more than what you think, so USE IT. Make life easier for your partners who should understand what you are saying so that they can react to what you are saying so that you can dance all together.

Sorry there's no pill. Or rather, the only pill is regular practice and patience. But you know all that, don't you? It's just a reminder (remember 'remember'/'remind'?).

Of course, frustration may be part of the process, but it's transitory -and you can always scream and shout in this blog if you need it.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Elementary, my dear Watson

**Take over?
Years ago, computer Deep Blue beat chess world champion Garry Kasparov. Now IBM's Supercomputer Watson has beaten two human competitors in America's quiz show Jeopardy!

I must admit that when my computer crashes or when I lose my pen drive I feel like a part of my brain is missing.

But you are on the right track if you don't want your computer to take control of your life:

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Love is in the air

Last weeek we were talking about feelings, reactions and states of mind, so how would you feel if your loved one proposed on the plane from Lisbon to Barcelona? On cloud nine? Over the moon? Between the devil and the deep blue sea, maybe? The rest of the passengers were happily entertained, that's for sure. A taste of Valentine's day next week.

KEY WORDS: stewardess, in-flight meals, familiar and unexpected voice, crew members, shocked and embarrassed, bride-to-be, I'd better not, on cloud nine.

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Back to the future

A flying car? Forget about the Transition! Teleportation is the future, and it looks like somebody at the University of Queensland, Australia, has found out how to do it.


Whatever the "entangled quantum particles" are, we are closer to time travel, or so it seems. However, you could only (if we had the technology) be teleported into the future, which is where I'd go anyway. But wait a minute ... imagine you travel to next year so you see yourself in the 5th year? Or maybe not? But then you should be able to learn enough to come back to L4 and pass it? Wouldn't it be a bit of a mess?

For those of you with a scientific mind: