Danial Language School

01/03/2015

Speaking hints 9: Shock and disbelief
______________________________
Expressing shock and disbelief
It is sometimes difficult to say how you feel in unexpected situations, such as natural disasters, bad news .., especially when you feel sad.
Here's a list of some common expressions to help you express
• shock
• and disbelief.
Shock:
I was shocked to hear…
stunned by...
taken aback by….. came as a complete shock.
I'm in
Examples:
• I was shocked to hear the news.
• I was stunned / taken aback by the news
• I was completely taken aback by his behavior.
• I was just stunned by her clothes.
• The news came as a complete shock.
• We're all in complete shock.
Disbelief:
I (just) can't believe…
can't imagine…
It's unbelievable.
incredible.
Examples:
• I just can't believe he won the race.
• It's unbelievable that they got married
• I just can't imagine they were able to get along with each other.

28/02/2015

Did you know 9: Animal 8
____________________
• Did you know flamingos can only eat when their head a are upside down
• Did you know the fingerprints of koala bear are indistinguishable to that of a human
• Did you know a female ferret is called a jill
• Did you know porcupines float in water
• Did you know there are 2 chickens for every person
• Did you know there are a million ants for every person on Earth
• Did you know coconuts kill over 150 people each year (more than sharks)
• Did you know emus can't walk backwards
• Did you know'Babe' was played by over 50 pigs
• Did you know giraffes has the highest blood pressure of any animal
• Did you know India has over 50 million monkeys
• Did you know ostriches have a 14 meter (46 foot) long small intestine
• Did you know your foot is the most common body part bitten by insects
• Did you know Japan is the largest exporter of frog legs
• Did you know a squid has 10 tentacles
• Did you know you're more likely to get stung by a bee on a windy day than any other
• Did you know more people are killed by hippopotamuses then by lions, elephants and water buffalos combined

26/02/2015

Most Common English Mistakes 8
___________________________
29. The words “breathe/breath” are often mispronounced, misspelled and misused. Breathe is a verb and means to bring air into your lungs while breath is a noun that means the actual air that is taken in your body. So you breathe the air and you take a breath of air.
30. The words “capital/capitol” vary slightly in pronunciation but are used in different ways. This pair of words is tricky even for the native speaker. The word capital means the main city, having accumulated wealth, a tall letter of the alphabet, excellent, or resulting in death (e.g. capital punishment or capital crime). However the word capitol means the building in which the state legislator meets.
31. You pronounce these two words the same: “carrot” and “karat/carat”. A carrot is a vegetable that you eat on a salad or by itself. And a karat or carat (both are pronounced the same and mean the same thing) is a unit of fineness of gold. So you can order carrots on your salad, and when you go to a jewelry store, you can ask about the gold rings to see their worth in karats/carats.
32. The words: “censure/sensor”. Censure as noun means the act of blaming or as a verb means to find fault with. These sentences show two meanings: “The newspapers were unanimous in their censure of the columnist” and “The government will censure the Hollywood movies”. Whereas, the word sensor means a device that responds to a physical stimulus. For example, “When a car is six feet away from the garage door, a built-in sensor opens the door.”

25/02/2015

Videos on learning English 8
______________________
http://youtu.be/6RvUMCjTvlM

'Full English' PLAYLIST - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbvnlSJNf_DYX8jVA_kcIpQuRBXcf2XIZ

24/02/2015

Visit English speaking countries 8
__________________________
Fact Sheet about the USA

The United States of America
• The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic.
• The country consists of fifty states and a federal district.
• It is situated mostly in central North America.
• Most of the country (forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district) lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
• The country is bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
• The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait.
• The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific.
• The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.

23/02/2015

How to learn English tips 8
_____________________
Where do I start?
Why do you want to learn English?
Before you begin (or go back to) studying English, ask yourself one question. Why do I want to study English? Is it because you want to, or because someone else wants you to? Like every decision in life, studying English must be something you want to do.
Set goals
If you know why you want to study, setting goals is easy. For example, maybe you want to travel to an English-speaking country. Great. Your goal might be to learn "Survival English". Perhaps you already know many useful phrases, but you want to improve your listening skills and pronunciation. Whatever your goals are, write them down.
Make an agenda
How long do you need to study to achieve your goals? This answer is different for every student. The important thing is to be realistic. If you work 60 hours per week, don't plan on spending another 40 hours a week studying English. Start off slow, but study regularly. Use material that is challenging, but not too difficult. Find out what works for you. After you have studied for a few weeks, adjust your study schedule accordingly. Do you study best at night, or on the bus on your way to work? Do you like to study alone in a quiet place, or with friends and background music? Click here for a sample 4 week agenda.
Make a commitment
Learning English requires a lot of motivation. Nobody is going to take your attendance when you aren't in class. If you are sure you are ready to begin studying, make a commitment. Click here to sign a contract with yourself.
Have fun learning English!
The things we do best in life are the things we enjoy doing. If you aren't having fun learning English, you're not studying the right way! You can be a serious student who has fun at the same time. Make up your own rewards program to give yourself incentives to stay on task.

22/02/2015

Idioms 8: A
_________
an eye for an eye
(also, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.) said to suggest that punishment should equal the crime. At the root of this principle is that one of the purposes of the law is to provide equitable retribution for an offended party.
In some countries, justice operates on the principle of an eye for an eye. That is, if you kill someone, you desrve to die.

another nail in one's coffin
One in a series of events which lead to downfall or inevitable failure.
After the bankruptcy and the death of his only son, divorce is just another nail in his coffin.

any minute soon now
(also any moment/second/time now) very soon
The news about the president's resignation will be broadcasted on TV any moment now.

any port in a storm
An unfavorable option which might well be avoided in good times but which nevertheless looks better than the alternatives at the current time.
That horrible hotel was a case of any port in a storm as we couldn't find any place to spend the night.

apple of somebody's eye
said about someone whom you love the most and you are very proud of.
His son is the apple of his eye.

21/02/2015

Writing 8: Useful Expressions
_______________________
Useful Academic Expressions
These are some useful expressions used in academic writing:

1. Stating your own position on a Subject or Topic
• This paper aims at...
• This paper will be concerned with...
• The aim of this paper is to…
• The point of this article is to…
• It shall be argued in this paper/essay/review that…
• The view presented in this paper/essay/review is that..

2. Presenting your own point of view
• I strongly believe that...
• To my mind...
• As I see it....
• It seems to me evident/obvious that...
• I feel that...
• I think/contend that...
• There are many reasons why…
• It is important/necessary to point out that…
• The first thing to be considered is…
• It is a fact that…

3. Supporting your view and adding more information:
• The first/second reason why…is…
• Firstly/Secondly...
• not only ...but also...
• The most important…
• In addition, …
• Furthermore, …
• What is more, …
• Another reason is …
• A further point is …

4. Stating the view of Another Person on a Subject or Topic
• Harris's approch (1970, p. 1) can be described as follows...
• Chomsky (1965, p. 133) maintains/argues/asserts/claims/points out that...
• Th authors views ca be stated as follows...
• The opinion of Chomsky (1965, p. 133) is that…
• Chomsky (1965, p. 133)) has suggested that ….
• According to Smith (1992, p. 123), …
• It is thought by some theorists, for example, Chomsky (1965, p. 133) and Harris (1970, p. 1) that…

5. Agreeing with the Views of Others
• I don't agree with the authors ideas/thoughts...because...
• I don't think the author's views are accurate...because...
• Chomsky (1965, p. 133) is certainly/may be correct/accurate in saying that … because…
• As Chomsky (1965, p. 133) says/states …
• Like Chomsky (1965, p. 133), it can be agreed that …. because…

6. Disagreeing with the Views of Others
• Chomsky (1965, p. 133) fails to address the issue when he says "…" because …
• When Chomsky (1965, p. 133) argues that …. his reasoning is questionable because….
• One of the main arguments against Chomsky (1965, p. 133) and Harris (1970, p. 1) is that …
• Harris (1970) approach/position/methods is/are somewhat inadequate/inaccurate/insufficient because…
• There is some doubt that…

7. Indicating a Lack of Knowledge in a Particular Topic or Subject
• Despite the book's attempts to... it lacks a accuracy...
• What I find lacking in the research is...
• Although the research has tended to focus on…..rather less attention has been paid to…
• Most studies, such as Harris (1970, p. 1) and Chomsky (1965, p. 133) have emphasized/concentrated on/focused on inadequate /insufficient….

8. Drawing a Conclusion Using the Work of Others
• To sum up, ...
• In a nutshell, ...
• As a conclusion, ...
• As a summary, ...
• All in all, ...
• To conclude, ...
• Based on these authors, a connection can be made between…
• It can be concluded from what Jones (2004, p. 2) and Smith (2002, p. 1) have stated that... is …
• When Smith’s (2001, p.52) work/paper is looked at closely, it is seen that…
• One outcome of Smith’s (2001, p.52) work/paper/research is …

19/02/2015

Reading Comprehension 8: Juvenile Crime
__________________________________
Juvenile delinquency refers to antisocial or illegal behavior by children or adolescents and is considered a serious problem all over the world. It is caused by social, economic and cultural factors. This juvenile criminality is apparent in marginal sectors of urban areas where children are exposed to violence in their immediate social environment, either as observers or as victims. Because delinquents basic education, if they have any, is poor they have been marginalized from society and destitute of any dignity or self-esteem. Although most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with young criminals, such as juvenile detention centers and suppression, approaches to prevent youth from becoming delinquent should also include measures to instill equality and justice, fight poverty and create an atmosphere of hope and peace among youth. These preventive policies should be given priorities over any coercive measures.
Socioeconomic opportunities and administrative services should be provided in rural areas to discourage young people from migrating to urban areas. Similarly, youth from poor urban settings should benefit from plans that focus on education, employment and access to leisure programs, especially during long school holidays. Young people who drop out of school or come from broken families should have access to specific social programs that help them become responsible adults.
Information campaigns should be planned to sensitize youth to be aware of the detrimental effects of violence on the family, community and society, to teach them how to communicate without violence. Focus on the importance of family should become a priority because it is the primary institution of socialization of youth and continues to play an important role in the prevention of juvenile delinquency and underage crime.
Comprehension

1. Juvenile crime is affected by economic factors
a. true
b. false

2. Migration might be another cause of juvenile criminality
a. true
b. false.

3. Family is not an important factor when dealing with juvenile criminality
a. true
b. false.

4. Suppression is not an option when dealing with juvenile criminality
a. true
b. false

18/02/2015

Vocabulary 8: Countries and Nationalities 1
__________________________________
Countries, nationalities and the people
This a list of countries, nationalities and people.
Country Adjective Person
Afghanistan Afghan an Afghan
Albania Albanian an Albanian
Algeria Algerian an Algerian
Andorra Andorran an Andorran
Angola Angolan an Angolan
Argentina Argentinian an Argentinian
Armenia Armenian an Armenian
Australia Australian an Australian
Austria Austrian an Austrian
Azerbaijan Azerbaijani an Azerbaijani
Bahamas Bahamian a Bahamian
Bahrain Bahraini a Bahraini
Bangladesh Bangladeshi a Bangladeshi
Barbados Barbadian a Barbadian
Belarus Belarusian or Belarusan a Belarusian or a Belarusan
Belgium Belgian a Belgian
Belize Belizian a Belizian
Benin Beninese a Beninese
Bhutan Bhutanese a Bhutanese
Bolivia Bolivian a Bolivian
Bosnia-Herzegovina Bosnian a Bosnian
Botswana Botswanan a Tswana
Brazil Brazilian a Brazilian
Britain British a Briton
Brunei Bruneian a Bruneian
Bulgaria Bulgarian a Bulgarian
Burkina Burkinese a Burkinese
Burma (or Myanmar) Burmese a Burmese
Burundi Burundian a Burundian
Cambodia Cambodian a Cambodian
Cameroon Cameroonian a Cameroonian
Canada Canadian a Canadian
Cape Verde Islands Cape Verdean a Cape Verdean
Chad Chadian a Chadian
Chile Chilean a Chilean
China Chinese a Chinese
Colombia Colombian a Colombian
Congo Congolese a Congolese
Costa Rica Costa Rican a Costa Rican
Croatia Croat or Croatian a Croat or a Croatian
Cuba Cuban a Cuban
Cyprus Cypriot a Cypriot

17/02/2015

Speaking hints 8: Making Offers
_________________________
How to make offers in English?
It is common that English speakers make offers in conversations in order to be polite and helpful. When they do so they use these expressions:
Can I… ?
Shall I… ?
Would you like … ?
How about ...?

English learner must be able to make offers as well as accept or reject them. The following are useful expressions to do so.
Making offers:
Can I help you?
Shall get you some juice?
Would you like a glass of water ?
How about some pizza?

Examples:
• "Can I help you?"
• "Shall I open the window for you?"
• "Would you like another cup of coffee?"
• "Would you like me to clean the board?"
• "How about a juice? "

Remember:
• Shall, can and will are followed by the verb without to.
Example:
"Can I help you?"
"Shall I bring you the mobile phone?
• Shall is more formal than can.
• Would you like… is followed either by a noun, or by the verb with to.

Example:
"Would you like some tea ?"
"Would you like to drink some coffee?
Responding to offers
Accepting Declining
Yes please. I'd like to.
That would be very kind of you.
Yes please, that would be lovely.
Yes please, I'd love to.
If you wouldn't mind.
If you could.
Thank you, that would be great. It's OK, I can do it myself.
Don't worry, I'll do it.
No, thanks
No, thank you

Examples:
• "Can I help you?"
"No thanks, I'm just having a look." (With a shop assistant.)
• "Can I help you?"
"Do you know where the post office is."
• "Shall I help you with your maths problem?"
"Yes, please. That would be very nice of you."
• "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No thanks." Or, "No thank you."
• "Would you like another piece of cake?"
"Yes please, that would be nice ."
"Yes please, I'd love one."
• "Would you like me to do the the ironing for you?"
"If you wouldn't mind."
"If you could."
• "I'll do the washing, if you like."
"It's OK, I can do it."
"Don't worry, I'll do it."
"Thank you, that would be great."

16/02/2015

Did you know 8: Animal 7
____________________
• Did you know crocodiles are responsible for over a 1,000 deaths each year by the Banks of the Nile river
• Did you know there are more insects in the world than all other animals combined
• Did you know giraffes can't swim
• Did you know crocodiles swallow rocks to help them dive deeper
• Did you know an elephant's trunk can hold over 5 litres of water
• Did you know bull's can run faster uphill than down
• Did you know a shark's teeth are literally as hard as steel
• Did you know a moth has no stomach
• Did you know grasshoppers have white blood
• Did you know it takes 4 hours to hard boil an ostrich egg
• Did you know you have fewer muscles than a caterpillar
• Did you know giraffes have no vocal cords
• Did you know most birds eat twice their body weight each day
• Did you know a group of whales is called a pod
• Did you know Kiwi birds are blind
• Did you know armadillos can walk underwater
• Did you know the bones of a pigeon weigh less than its feathers
• Did you know the cheetah is the only cat that can't retract it's claws
• Did you know roosters can't crow if they can't fully extend their necks
• Did you know dolphins can hear underwater sounds from 24 km (15 miles) away