Cat's classroom

Summer's over and it is time to start classes again. September - October is the alternative January! I don't think I need to say why but this year, things will be a little different; wearing a mask, remembering to keep socially distant from your classmates and teacher or maybe your classes are online. However, some things remain the same.  Whether you are learning in a real or virtual classroom, the main thing is starting well to have a good and successful year learning English. How are you preparing for the year ahead? Here are 7 tips to get off to a good start: 1. Be organised.  Keep a notebook. Record all your new vocabulary and try to review it and use it so that you are actively using new language. Watch this video to find out about vocabulary notebooks. 2. Use a dictionary when you don't know a word then write it in your notebook. Dictionaries such as Oxford learners dictionary or  Cambridge learners dictionary are designed to help students who are learning Engl...

It's summer time and that means one thing ... Exams!!! There are loads of great resources on the internet to help you prepare for the B2 First or First for Schools exam, maybe too many!  Lets look at a few. FCE Exam tips has lots of handy advice and tips to help you pass the exam. Flo-Joe  and Englishaula  are similar and also have some great interactive activities to help you improve your grammar, vocabulary and writing. At ESL school , there are lots of interactive activities and games to help you improve your vocabulary (check out the wordsearches) and Use of English. At ESL Lounge , you can do quizzes and exercises specifically aimed at different parts of the exam. Today School also has exercises specifically aimed at different parts of the exam and has some good writing practice activities. Try not to get overwhelmed.  Keep practicing and Good luck!  🍀

Although there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, there are 44 sounds. Confusing?  Maybe that is why English pronunciation can be a nightmare!  There are many ways to improve your pronunciation but one way is to start with the most common sound in the English language -  / ə / , called schwa (the only sound to have a name). The schwa sound can replace all the vowel sounds, is always weak and can really help your pronunciation have intonation which is so important in English.   Schwa is so important that there is a page dedicated to it's basic sound on the BBC  and here is a great introduction to schwa also on the BBC . This webpage has a great guide to using and pronouncing schwa - listen and repeat out loud. You may feel a bit silly but it is GREAT practice. Now you know about schwa, listen for it when you  listen  to English - you will hear it everywhere and try to use it as much as you can. Your pronunciation really will improve.

Our summers are usually full of nice things; ice cream, the beach, travelling to other cities or countries and spending time with family and friends. Sadly, this summer things may be a little different. So, what are you going to do to keep yourself busy? One option may be to continue practicing your English. Doing this at home and by yourself is a great thing to do. But, it can get boring and you may get demotivated. How about online classes and activities?  At Brunel Centre , there are a range of classes you could do from intensive exam preparation classes if you are thinking of doing an exam (Cambridge exams are starting again) or something more relaxed like film and book discussion. There are even virtual summer classes for children with fun activities to keep them busy and improve their English.                        Maybe see you in a class!

Only have 10 minutes?   BBC ideas are short, factual videos with topics such as A.I  sustainable thinking, the power of music and universal wonders.  Interesting as well as useful! What can you do in 10 minutes? Choose a video Watch the video Try to summarize.  What was the video about?  What were the main points? Watch the video again and read the transcript at the same time. Write down 5-10 new words and look them up in the dictionary EXTRA - write a short summary of the video or write some sentences using the new vocabulary Try to use these new words when you next talk or write in English EXTRA - you could choose one or two sentences and practice repeating them to practice your pronunciation.

Here is something that I have never seen before, videos that you can watch, read vocabulary definitions and answer questions to check your understanding as you go.  Very futuristic! The English Channel is a selection of interactive, short videos for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Although they are great for everyone, they are particularly useful if you are preparing for an exam. Go on, give it ago.  Who knows what you will learn today!