Words with Long U Vowel Sounds - UDE (OOD/EWD), OOP (OUP), OOT - Spellings

This video is for pronunciation practice with the long vowel sound for U.  You will see examples for words spelled with ude, ood, ewd, oop, oup, and oot.   

There is also a downloadable vocabulary sheet with room for you to write in definitions and of the words:

Vocabulary Sheet

Words with Long O Vowel Sounds - ODE(OAD), OPE(OAP/AUPE), OAT(OTE) Spellings

This video is for pronunciation practice with the long vowel sound for O.  You will see examples for words spelled with ode, oad, ope, oap, aupe, oat, and ote.   

There is also a downloadable vocabulary sheet with room for you to write in definitions and of the words:

Vocabulary Sheet

Long Vowel Sounds - I - Spellings IDE, YPE (IPE), ITE (IGHT)

This video is for pronunciation practice with the long vowel sound for I.  You will see examples for words spelled with ide, ype, ipe, ite, and ight.   

There is also a downloadable vocabulary sheet with room for you to write in definitions and of the words:

Vocabulary Sheet

Long Vowel Sounds - E - Spellings EAD (EED), EAP (EEP), EAT (EET)

This video is for pronunciation practice with the long vowel sound for E.  You will see examples for words spelled with ead, eed, eap, eep, eat and eet.   

There is also a downloadable vocabulary sheet with room for you to write in definitions and of the words:

Vocabulary Sheet

Long Vowel Sounds - A - Spellings AID (ADE), APE, ATE (AIT)

This video is for pronunciation practice with the long vowel sound for A.  You will see examples for words spelled with aid, ade, ape, ate, and ait.   

There is also a downloadable vocabulary sheet with room for you to write in definitions and of the words:  Vocabulary Sheet

For a video with pronunciation practice of all the long vowel sounds (no words or spellings) please watch this video:

DIFFERENCES - A few / few

Today one of my students asked a very good question about the difference between the words “a few” and “few”.  Below are some example sentences with possible meanings and an explanation:

A few

I have a few pages of homework.

          Meaning:  I have 3 or 4 pages of homework, but it is not much.

A few students are going to the lecture.

          Meaning:  Some students are going to the lecture.  Maybe 5 or 6 students are going.

I have a few friends at school.

          Meaning:  I have 3 friends at school.

Few

I have few pages of homework.

          Meaning:  I do not receive much homework.

Few students are going to the lecture.

          Meaning:  There are students going, but not many.  The lecture may be cancelled if more students don't attend.

I have few friends at school.

          Meaning:  I have 2 or 3 friends, but I want more.    

   

The difference is the context.  “A few” we use when we want to talk about how much remains, or give a specific number or an estimation.  The number is going to be a smaller number when we use “a few”.   

We use “few” when we want to talk about what we lack.  Using “few” can mean that you are disappointed by the small number and desire more.

Do you have a few questions or do you have few questions?  ;)

Idiom of the day: “to act up”

Idiom of the day:  “to act up”

What does this mean and how can you use it?  Here are some examples:

1.  My computer is acting up.  I think it has a virus.

                Meaning:  My computer is not working (probably because of a virus).

Photo Credit:  Evan Williams

2.  My baby brother acts up at bedtime.  He does not want to go to sleep.

                Meaning:  My brother cries and is angry when he has to go to bed.

Photo Credit:  Steven & Courtney Johnson & Horwitz

Share some of your examples in the comments! :)

Feelings / Emotions

This week we learned how to say how we are feeling or our emotions.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice Quizzes:

Emotions Exercises
Feelings and To Be Exercises

Emotions Quiz 1

Emotions Quiz 2

Week 5 - Beginners - Describing People / Intermediate - Calling 911

This week we learned how to describe people's appearances for beginners.  In the Intermediate class, we learned how to call 911 and practiced our progressive present tenses.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice Quizzes (Beginning Class):
Describing using To Have

Describing People and Things

Simple Present Tense - To Be
Have or Has

Practice Quizzes (Intermediate Class):
Present Progressive Tense (Long form) 1
Present Progressive Tense - (Long Form) 2
Present Progressive Tense - (Long Form) 3
Present Progressive Tense - Long and Short Forms

Simple Present Verbs and Illnesses/Symptoms Vocabulary - Week 3

In weeks 1 and 2 we learned about simple present tense verbs.  This week we learned about the singular and plurals of nouns for beginners.  In the Intermediate class, we learned about vocabulary for illnesses and symptoms.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice Quizzes (Beginning Class):
Plurals of Nouns
Plurals of Nouns #2
Plurals of Nouns (Irregulars)

Practice Quizzes (Intermediate Class):
Simple Present Tense Verbs
To Have (Simple Present Tense)
To Be (Simple Present Tense)
Health Problems and Treatments
Health Problems

Second Conditionals

This week we learned about second conditional forms.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
Should Quiz 1
Should Quiz 2
Should Quiz 3

Second Conditionals Quiz 1
Second Conditionals Quiz 2
Second Conditionals Quiz 3
Second Conditionals Quiz 4

Zero and First Conditionals (Real Conditionals)

This week we learned about zero and first conditional forms.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
Zero Conditionals Quiz 1
Zero Conditionals Quiz 2

First Conditionals Quiz 1
First Conditionals Quiz 2
First Conditionals Quiz 3
First Conditionals Quiz 4

Conditionals Videos:

Dates, Times, Calendars, and Prepositions of Time

This week we learned about dates, times, calendars and prepositions of time.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
In / On / At Time - Quiz 1
In / On / At Time - Quiz 2
In / On / At Time - Quiz 3
In / On / At Time - Quiz 4
In / On / At Time - Quiz 5
Prepositions of Time Mixed Quiz

Prepositions of Time Video:

Week 6 - Homes, Renting and Buying

This week we learned renting and buying homes.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
Renting an Apartment - Quiz 1
Renting an Apartment - Quiz 2
Buying a Home - Quiz 1
Buying a Home - Quiz 2

Things in My House Matching - Quiz 1
Things in My House Matching - Quiz 2
Things Around the House - Quiz 1

Things Around the House - Quiz 2

Renting Vocabulary Video:

Week 5 Money/Shopping

This week we learned money and shopping vocabulary.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
Shopping Vocabulary Quiz
Shopping Vocabulary - Quiz 2
Shopping Vocabulary - Quiz 3

Shopping Vocabulary Video:

Week 4 - Mathematics Vocabulary

This week we learned mathematics vocabulary and reviewed basic math problems.  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
Vocabulary Matching Quiz 1
Vocabulary Matching Quiz 2
Word Problems Quiz
Fractions Quiz
Decimals, Fractions, and Percents Quiz

Arithmetic Quiz (Can Customize)
Fractions Quiz (Can Customize)

Math Vocabulary Video:

WEEK 2 - Adjectives and Present Tenses

This week we learned new adjectives.  We also continued practicing Simple Present Tense verbs and learned about Present Progressive Tense verbs. Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
Adjectives - Opposites Matching Quiz

Colors - Unscramble the Letters Quiz
Find the Adjective Game
Adjectives Ending with -ed and -ing Quiz
Adjectives Quiz


Simple Present Tense Quiz 1
Simple Present Tense Quiz 2

Present Progressive/Continuous Quiz 1

First Week of Class!

This week we learned about classroom and office vocabulary.  We also learned about Simple Present Tense verbs and regular plurals of nouns. Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
School and Office Vocabulary Quiz 1

School and Office Vocabulary Quiz 2

Regular Plurals of Nouns Quiz 1


Regular Plurals of Nouns Quiz 2


Simple Present Tense Quiz 1
Simple Present Tense Quiz 2

Creativity with Language

A very interesting video.  Proper grammar is important, but so is creativity!  Don't forget to experiment and make up words.  Every generation introduces new words into a language--especially with changes in technology.  

Resumes and Job Skills

This week we learned about job skills vocabulary, how to read a job ads, and how to talk about what we "can do".  Below are some practice quizzes. 

Practice:
Job Descriptions Quiz
Can and Can't Quiz 1
Can and Can't Quiz 2
Can and Can't Quiz 3
Abbreviations Used in Job Ads Quiz

Resume Writing Video:

Diction/Speaking Video: