A job interview

Have you been for an interview for a job? Did you enjoy it or were you very nervous? What does this person find difficult?

Find out by doing these four exercises:

Exercise one: Pre-listening: Vocabulary.

Exercise two: Click on the words you hear.

Exercise three: What are the problems?

Exercise four: Listen and match up the expressions.

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Terrible Plane Crash in Spain

More Than 150 Killed in Spain Plane Crash.

The deadliest plane crash in Spain in more than 20 years has taken the lives of at least 153 people and injured 19. As the Canary Islands-bound plane made its second attempt to take off from the Madrid airport, it careened off course, crashed in a nearby gully, and burst into flames. On a first take-off attempt, the pilot reported a mechanical problem and returned for repairs, delaying the flight by about an hour. A number of the crash survivors were flung into a nearby stream that protected them from more severe burns. An investigation will be launched in order to determine the cause of the terrible accident.

Source: In the News provided by The Free Dictionary.

With this post I want to show my condolences to the victims and their relatives of this terrible accident.

A day out in England

England is certainly a beautiful country with lots of things and places for the tourist to visit. I went for a day out. Where did I go and what was it like?

Find out by doing these four exercises:

Exercise one: Pre-listening: vocabulary.

Exercise two: Click on the words you hear.

Exercise three: Is this exactly what you've heard?

Exercise four: Complete and check.

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Gomaespuminglish VI

We are back again with another Gomaespuminglish lesson. I hope you like it, but do not forget that these lessons are just for fun. Do not speak English like that!

DO or MAKE

The two verbs 'do' and 'make' are often confused. The meanings are similar, but there are differences.

'Do' for Activities
Use the verb 'do' to express daily activities or jobs. Notice that these are usually activities that produce no physical object.
do homework - do housework - do the ironing - do the dishes - do a job

'Do' for General Ideas
Use the verb 'do' when speaking about things in general. In other words, when we do not exactly name an activity. This form is often used with the words 'something, nothing, anything, everything, etc.'
I'm not doing anything today. He does everything for his mother. She's doing nothing at the moment.

Important Expressions with 'Do'

There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'do'. These are standard collocations (verb + noun combinations) that are used in English.
do one's best - do good - do harm - do a favour - do business

'Make' for Constructing, Building, Creating
Use 'make' to express an activity that creates something that you can touch.
make food - make a cup of tea / coffee - make a mess

Important Expressions with 'Make'
There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'make'. In a number of cases the verb 'do' seems more appropriate. These are standard collocations (verb + noun combinations) that are used in English.
make plans - make an exception - make arrangements - make a telephone call - make a decision - make a mistake - make noise - make money - make an excuse - make an effort

Next, take the quiz testing 'do' or 'make'.

Source: About.com English as 2nd Language by Kenneth Beare.

Now you can practise what you have learnt playing this game.
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The Description Detective Game

Are you a good detective? Find out by playing this game.

The Description Detective

You are a police officer. When you press start, you will see an investigation. Read the description of the wanted person carefully. Then wait, and you will go to the playground, the airport, a restaurant, and the park . If you see the person in the description, click the person with your mouse.

Click here or on the picture to play The Description Detective Game. Have fun!

Source and more games: http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

"One World One Dream" fully reflects the essence and the universal values of the Olympic spirit -- Unity, Friendship, Progress, Harmony, Participation and Dream. It expresses the common wishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future of Mankind. In spite of the differences in colors, languages and races, we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace. We belong to the same world and we share the same aspirations and dreams.

"One World One Dream" is a profound manifestation of the core concepts of the Beijing Olympic Games. It reflects the values of harmony connoted in the concept of "People's Olympics", the core and soul of the three concepts -- "Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People's Olympics". While "Harmony of Man with Nature" and "Peace Enjoys Priority" are the philosophies and ideals of the Chinese people since ancient times in their pursuit of the harmony between Man and Nature and the harmony among people, building up a harmonious society and achieving harmonious development are the dream and aspirations of ours. It is our belief that peace and progress, harmonious development, living in amity, cooperation and mutual benefit, and enjoying a happy life are the common ideals of the people throughout the world.

"One World, One Dream" is simple in expressions, but profound in meaning. It is of China, and also of the world. It conveys the lofty ideal of the people in Beijing as well as in China to share the global community and civilization and to create a bright future hand in hand with the people from the rest of the world. It expresses the firm belief of a great nation, with a long history of 5,000 years and on its way towards modernization, that is committed to peaceful development, harmonious society and people's happiness. It voices the aspirations of 1.3 billion Chinese people to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful and bright world.
The English translation of the slogan is distinctive in sentence structure. The two "One's are perfectly used in parallel, and the words "World" and "Dream" form a good match. The slogan is simple, meaningful, inspiring, and easy to remember, read and spread.

In Chinese, the word "tongyi", which means "the same", is used for the English word "One". It highlights the theme of "the whole Mankind lives in the same world and seeks for the same dream and ideal".

Source: The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Now, you can listen to the theme song for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games "We Are Ready". Watch the video and enjoy China's beautiful places, buildings and landscapes.



If you want to, you can play these official Olympic Mini-Games. Have fun!

Travelling pets

Pets coming into Britain have to go into quarantine. What's it like and what happens when it's finished? Find out by doing these four exercises:

Exercise one: Pre-listening task: Vocabulary.

Exercise two: Click on the words you hear.

Exercise three: Complete and listen.

Exercise four: Reorder the sentences.

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A picnic without walnuts?

Summer Holiday World Geography Quiz

Do you like travelling? Have you ever been abroad? Summer is a great time for going to foreign places. Test your general knowledge on Geography by doing these quizzes. They are graded in different levels of difficulty.

Holiday Geography Quiz (easy)
Holiday Geography Quiz (easy) Long Timer
Holiday Geography Quiz (tricky)
Holiday Geography Quiz (tricky) Long Timer
Holiday Geography Quiz (fiendish)
Holiday Geography Quiz (fiendish) Long Timer

Source: http://yacapaca.com

Some Famous English Quotes I

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
Aldous Huxley

Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.
John Keats

A day without laughter is a day wasted.
Charlie Chaplin

I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
Oscar Wilde

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Neighbours