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:

English Lesson - Synonyms for Mad / Angry

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

How to be a Successful Learner

This is advice that I always give to my students for the in-person classes that I teach. In order to excel in any subject that one is learning, it is important that you do the following:

1. Go to class every day. Missing classes (whether they are in-person or online) is missing opportunities to learn!
2. Do your homework. Complete the assignments that you are given. Instructors give assignments not to torture you, but to help reinforce what you learned in class. Remember, practice makes perfect.
3. Practice what you've learned everywhere that you can. This is especially important for language learners. Read, write, and speak the language that you are learning at home and work. Take the extra time to make "self-assignments" and use what you know. Practice helps you progress faster.
4. Keep a journal of what you learned. Learning journals are a wonderful tool as you can use them for both note-taking and motivation. Start by making a few short notes about what you learned after every class. Eventually, you will find yourself writing even more and reinforcing your knowledge on the subject. On days that you feel frustrated or feel like giving up, take a look at your journal. Notice all the things that you have accomplished and how far you have come. This helps remind you that you can do it!
5. Speak positively about yourself. If you are an ESL/ESOL student, avoid saying that your English is “bad” or “not good”. Instead focus on the positive. Say things like, "I'm a student and I'm working on improving my English." For art and photography students, again, be positive. Instead of calling your work “terrible”, rephrase with statements like “I’m working on improving my photography skills. Could I please have some constructive criticism so that I can learn better?”

 

These are five wonderful habits to develop to improve your ability to learn and succeed in any subject. Remember you are learning and it’s ok to make mistakes and have questions—this is part of the learning process. As long as you keep trying and focus on the positives, you will learn the subject matter and grow your confidence.  :)

At, In, On - Prepositions of Time and Location

This week we discussed Prepositions of Location and Time.  Below are some reviews of IN, ON, AT.  Click to start the presentation and view the practice questions and answers.