Map of Reading Skills
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
28 Spelling Rules
See the following link from the Riggs Institute for the rules : http://www.riggsinst.org/28rules.aspx
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Vocabulary Pronunciation Pairs
Pronunciation Pairs
English pronunciation is so crazy that it sometimes even trips up native-speakers. Two words can have the same spelling but different pronunciation depending on the meaning.
This is a kind of self-checking exercise. Each of these sentences has such a pair of words. Read the sentence. If you're not sure about the different pronunciation of the two words, use your dictionary to check it. These are all common expressions.
1. We polish the Polish furniture every day.
2. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
3. A farm can produce produce.
4. The dump was so full it had to refuse refuse.
5. The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
6. The present is a good time to present the present.
7. At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum.
8. The dove dove into the bushes.
9. I did not object to the object.
10. The insurance for the invalid was invalid.
11. The bandage was wound around the wound.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. They sent a sewer down to stitch the tear in the sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number.
19. I shed a tear when I saw the tear in my clothes.
20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
22. I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.
English pronunciation is so crazy that it sometimes even trips up native-speakers. Two words can have the same spelling but different pronunciation depending on the meaning.
This is a kind of self-checking exercise. Each of these sentences has such a pair of words. Read the sentence. If you're not sure about the different pronunciation of the two words, use your dictionary to check it. These are all common expressions.
1. We polish the Polish furniture every day.
2. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
3. A farm can produce produce.
4. The dump was so full it had to refuse refuse.
5. The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
6. The present is a good time to present the present.
7. At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum.
8. The dove dove into the bushes.
9. I did not object to the object.
10. The insurance for the invalid was invalid.
11. The bandage was wound around the wound.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. They sent a sewer down to stitch the tear in the sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number.
19. I shed a tear when I saw the tear in my clothes.
20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
22. I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Freemind Mapping Software Download Site
Download freemind software from here:
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Dictionary Links
M-W -- Merriam-Webster Online with spoken words: http://www.m-w.com/
WordWeb Desktop eDictionary: http://wordweb.info/free/
WordWeb Desktop eDictionary: http://wordweb.info/free/
Unit 1: Music -- The biology of music
The biology of music
1 What are two things that make humans different from all other animals? One is language and the other is music. While other animals can sing -- indeed, many birds do so better than a lot of people — birdsong, and the song of animals such as whales, is limited in type. No other animal has developed a musical instrument.
2 Music is strange stuff. It is clearly different from language. People can, nevertheless, use it to communicate things — especially their emotions. When combined with speech in a song, it is one of most powerful means of communication that humans have. But, biologically speaking, what is it?
3 If music is truly different from speech, then it ought to come from a distinct part of the brain. That part keeps music separate from other sounds, including language. The evidence suggests that such a part does exist.
4 People whose language-processing ability is damaged do not automatically lose their musical abilities. For example, Vissarion Shebalin, a Russian composer, suffered a stroke to the left side of his brain in 1953. After that, he could no longer speak or understand speech. He could, however, still compose music until his death ten years later. On the other hand, there are one or two cases of people who have lost their musical abilities but who can still speak and understand speech. This shows that the brain processes music and language independently.
5 A lot is known about how music works its magic. Why it does so is a different question. Geoffrey Miller, a researcher at University College, London, thinks that music and love are connected to each other. Because music requires special talent and practice, it is a way of demonstrating your fitness to be someone’s mate. Singing in tune, or playing a musical instrument, requires fine muscular control. Remembering the notes demands a good memory. Getting those notes
right once you have r them suggests a play is in top condition. fact that much music man to the woman vice versa) suggest indeed, a way of showing off.
1 What are two things that make humans different from all other animals? One is language and the other is music. While other animals can sing -- indeed, many birds do so better than a lot of people — birdsong, and the song of animals such as whales, is limited in type. No other animal has developed a musical instrument.
2 Music is strange stuff. It is clearly different from language. People can, nevertheless, use it to communicate things — especially their emotions. When combined with speech in a song, it is one of most powerful means of communication that humans have. But, biologically speaking, what is it?
3 If music is truly different from speech, then it ought to come from a distinct part of the brain. That part keeps music separate from other sounds, including language. The evidence suggests that such a part does exist.
4 People whose language-processing ability is damaged do not automatically lose their musical abilities. For example, Vissarion Shebalin, a Russian composer, suffered a stroke to the left side of his brain in 1953. After that, he could no longer speak or understand speech. He could, however, still compose music until his death ten years later. On the other hand, there are one or two cases of people who have lost their musical abilities but who can still speak and understand speech. This shows that the brain processes music and language independently.
5 A lot is known about how music works its magic. Why it does so is a different question. Geoffrey Miller, a researcher at University College, London, thinks that music and love are connected to each other. Because music requires special talent and practice, it is a way of demonstrating your fitness to be someone’s mate. Singing in tune, or playing a musical instrument, requires fine muscular control. Remembering the notes demands a good memory. Getting those notes
right once you have r them suggests a play is in top condition. fact that much music man to the woman vice versa) suggest indeed, a way of showing off.
Unit 1: Music -- Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong had two famous nicknames. Some people called him Satchmo, short for “Satchel Mouth.” They said his mouth looked like a satchel, or large bag. Musicians were more likely to call him Pops, as a sign of respect for his influence on the world of music.
2 Armstrongwas born on August 4,
1901, in Jane Alley, one of the toughest areas of Ne~ Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up poor, but surrounded by great musicians. Jazz was invented in New Orleans a fe\~ years before he was born. Armstrong often said, “Jazz and I grew up together.”
3 Armstrong v~ as arrested in his early teens for a minor offense. That arrest proved to be lucky He was sent to a boy’s home where Professor Peter Davis taught him to play the cornet. Armstrong had a great talent for music, and he went quickly from being the bass drummer in the school band to first bugler and cornetist.
4 On leaving the boys’ home in his late teens, Armstrong began to live the life of a musician. He played ~ ith bands in parades, clubs, and on the steamboats that traveled on the i\/lississippi River. At that time, the city was defined by the nen music of jazz and ~~as home to many great musicians. Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became respected as their equal. He nas the best student of the great cornetist and trumpeter Joe Oliver~ and played second cornet in his famous band, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band.
5 In 1918, Joe Oliver moved to Chicago. At first, Armstrong remained in New Orleans, but in 1922 he went to Chicago to rejoin Oliver’s band. There, the tale of Louis Armstrong, the genius, begins. From then until the end of his life, Armstrong was celebrated, imitated, and loved v~herever he \~ent. Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the American popular song.
6 His trumpet playing had a deep humanity and warmth that caused many listeners to say, “Listening to Pops just makes you feel good all over.” In addition to being a brilliant trumpetel; he was also the father of the jazz vocal st~ le. He toured constantly and during the last twenty ~ ears of his life, he ~ as one of the best-known and most-admired people in the world. His death, on July 6, 1971, was headline nev~ s around the world.
Adapted from Marsalis on Music.
4
Louis Armstrong had two famous nicknames. Some people called him Satchmo, short for “Satchel Mouth.” They said his mouth looked like a satchel, or large bag. Musicians were more likely to call him Pops, as a sign of respect for his influence on the world of music.
2 Armstrongwas born on August 4,
1901, in Jane Alley, one of the toughest areas of Ne~ Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up poor, but surrounded by great musicians. Jazz was invented in New Orleans a fe\~ years before he was born. Armstrong often said, “Jazz and I grew up together.”
3 Armstrong v~ as arrested in his early teens for a minor offense. That arrest proved to be lucky He was sent to a boy’s home where Professor Peter Davis taught him to play the cornet. Armstrong had a great talent for music, and he went quickly from being the bass drummer in the school band to first bugler and cornetist.
4 On leaving the boys’ home in his late teens, Armstrong began to live the life of a musician. He played ~ ith bands in parades, clubs, and on the steamboats that traveled on the i\/lississippi River. At that time, the city was defined by the nen music of jazz and ~~as home to many great musicians. Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became respected as their equal. He nas the best student of the great cornetist and trumpeter Joe Oliver~ and played second cornet in his famous band, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band.
5 In 1918, Joe Oliver moved to Chicago. At first, Armstrong remained in New Orleans, but in 1922 he went to Chicago to rejoin Oliver’s band. There, the tale of Louis Armstrong, the genius, begins. From then until the end of his life, Armstrong was celebrated, imitated, and loved v~herever he \~ent. Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the American popular song.
6 His trumpet playing had a deep humanity and warmth that caused many listeners to say, “Listening to Pops just makes you feel good all over.” In addition to being a brilliant trumpetel; he was also the father of the jazz vocal st~ le. He toured constantly and during the last twenty ~ ears of his life, he ~ as one of the best-known and most-admired people in the world. His death, on July 6, 1971, was headline nev~ s around the world.
Adapted from Marsalis on Music.
4
Unit 1: Music -- Music and Moods
Music and Moods
1 Have you ever felt a sudden rush of joy because a favorite song came on the radio? Then you know that music can have a strong effect on your emotions. You should try to take advantage of this power of music. It can help you beat a bad mood or maintain a good mood, says Alicia Ann Clair, professor of music therapy at the University of Kansas. Music can also help you relax and feel rejuvenated.
2 To cheer up or boost energy, listen to Latin music or anything with accented beats, lots of percussion, and a fast tempo. When you want to relax after a busy day, music with string instruments and woodwinds, less percussion, and a slower tempo can calm you.
3 Listen to calming music before you tackle stressful activities, recommends Dr. Clair. “Once you’re in a good state of mind, it’s easier to maintain.” To reduce stress at work, put on relaxing tunes only when you really need them. Woodwind instruments “If you listen to them all day long, you will screen them out,” Dr. Clair explains.
4 You can change your mood by switching from one kind of music to another. To feel rejuvenated, “Start with something serene and relaxing, then gradually pick up the tempo and beat,” says Dr. Clair. For example, play Frank Sinatra ballads, then move on to something energetic such as Aretha Franklin. When you want to calm down after a busy week at work, do the opposite.
String instruments
Adapted from Woman’s Day.
2
Percussion instruments
1 Have you ever felt a sudden rush of joy because a favorite song came on the radio? Then you know that music can have a strong effect on your emotions. You should try to take advantage of this power of music. It can help you beat a bad mood or maintain a good mood, says Alicia Ann Clair, professor of music therapy at the University of Kansas. Music can also help you relax and feel rejuvenated.
2 To cheer up or boost energy, listen to Latin music or anything with accented beats, lots of percussion, and a fast tempo. When you want to relax after a busy day, music with string instruments and woodwinds, less percussion, and a slower tempo can calm you.
3 Listen to calming music before you tackle stressful activities, recommends Dr. Clair. “Once you’re in a good state of mind, it’s easier to maintain.” To reduce stress at work, put on relaxing tunes only when you really need them. Woodwind instruments “If you listen to them all day long, you will screen them out,” Dr. Clair explains.
4 You can change your mood by switching from one kind of music to another. To feel rejuvenated, “Start with something serene and relaxing, then gradually pick up the tempo and beat,” says Dr. Clair. For example, play Frank Sinatra ballads, then move on to something energetic such as Aretha Franklin. When you want to calm down after a busy week at work, do the opposite.
String instruments
Adapted from Woman’s Day.
2
Percussion instruments
Link to vocabulary of music:
Link to vocabulary of music: http://www.eslgold.com/vocabulary/musical_instruments.html
Link to music vocabulary quiz: http://www.quizmoz.com/quizzes/Music-Quizzes/m/Music-Vocabulary-Quiz.asp
Link to music vocabulary quiz: http://www.quizmoz.com/quizzes/Music-Quizzes/m/Music-Vocabulary-Quiz.asp
Course Text
Required Text
Title: Strategic Reading 1 Building Effective Reading Skills 2003
Author: Richards, Jack C and Samuela Eckstut-Didier
Publisher: Cambridge
ISBN: 0521555809
Recommended Text:
Title: Interactions 1 -- Reading (Silver Edition) 2007
Author: Kirn, Elaine and Pamela Hartmann
Publisher: McGraw Hill
ISBN-13: 9780073138114
Title: Strategic Reading 1 Building Effective Reading Skills 2003
Author: Richards, Jack C and Samuela Eckstut-Didier
Publisher: Cambridge
ISBN: 0521555809
Recommended Text:
Title: Interactions 1 -- Reading (Silver Edition) 2007
Author: Kirn, Elaine and Pamela Hartmann
Publisher: McGraw Hill
ISBN-13: 9780073138114
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Vocabulary Links
Link to idioms A to Z:
http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.html
http://www.goenglish.com/Idioms.asp
By way of: http://wccniuesl.blogspot.com/2005/06/esl-vocabulary.html
ESL: Vocabulary
http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Vocabulary/
Another compendium.
This is a sub-page of The Internet TESL Journal's TESL/TEFL/TESOL/ESL/EFL/ESOL Links and includes sites such as
Arabic Number to English Convertor (Requires JavaScript.)
Enter a number up to 999,999,999 and see it spelled out in English.
BBC News English - Words in the News
Read, listen and learn the English in this week's stories.
Common Errors in English (Paul Brians)
Words that native English speakers frequently find confusing.
Common Usage Problems (Vicki Jones and Ann Bertoldie)
Words that native English speakers frequently find confusing.
English for You - Visual Fruit (Donald Hennessey)
Pictures of fruit and their names in English
English for You - Visual Veggies (Donald Hennessey)
Pictures of vegetables and their names in English
Expanding your Vocabulary (La Trobe University)
Brief hints for advanced students.
Language Adventure - Picture Quiz
Easy. Click on the picture of the word you hear. (WAV files)
Megellan's Log - Pronunciation Pairs (Sentences Using Heteronyms) (Douglas Milburn)
We polish the Polish furniture every day. I did not object to the object. etc.
Nick Miller's EFL/ESL Resource Material - Street & Map Terms (Nicholas E. Miller)
A list of words with definitions.
QuiaCom - Matching Quiz - Countries and Nationalities [FRAME] (AH Syed)
Quia.com activity -Columns
specialist.hu - ESL Topics and Vocabulary [FRAME] (English Specialist)
True/false and multiple choice quizzes on basic exam topics and vocabulary
Testing Vocabulary
By S. Kathleen Kitao & Kenji Kitao
The Compleat Lexical Tutor (Tom Cobb)
Test your word knowledge, Learn words at your level, Read & Listen, ...
Vocabulary - Extended Family Chart
A detailed family tree chart: paternal uncle's wife, maternal cousin, ....
Vocabulary Self-Study Quizzes (The Internet TESL Journal)
See the answers right away. Produced by teachers around the world.
Vocabulary Vulcanizer [FRAME] (Paige Jaeger)
Study 'roots' to improve vocabulary: Phobia (=Fear) claustrophobia, xenophobia
Word Safari: vocabulary expeditions (Ruth Pettis)
For native speakers and advanced students. Expand your English vocabulary while surfing the Web
WordOrigins.org's List of Words and Phrases (David Wilton)
baker's dozen, kick the bucket, left wing, Kilroy was here, ...
http://www.antimoon.com/other/activevocab.htm (Tomasz P. Szynalski)
Why it is normal to understand more English words than you can use
http://learners.englishclub.com/esl-articles/200109.htm (Josef Essberger)
Gonna, Ain't, Gimme, Gotta, Kinda, Wanna, Whatcha, ...
http://vocabulary.englishclub.com/interjections.htm (Josef Essberger)
Charts with meanings and examples: Ah, Alas, Dear, Eh, ...
http://vocabulary.englishclub.com/cw_say-tell.htm (Josef Essberger)
How to use say and tell.
http://vocabulary.englishclub.com/time_tell.htm (Josef Essberger)
UK English: 'just gone three o'clock'; Others: 'a quarter past three' etc.
http://www.forumeducation.net/servlet/pages/vi/mat/voc.htm (Sven Cederberg)
300+ word formation exercises
http://www.forumeducation.net/servlet/pages/vi/mat/voc.htm#1 (Sven Cederberg)
Example of random generated test from huge database
http://www.googlefight.com/cgi-bin/compare.pl?q1=%22The+love+of+money+is+a+root+of+all+evil%22&q2=%22Money+is+the+root+of+all+evil.%22&B1=Make+a+fight%21&compare=1&langue=us (Create Your Own Vocabulary Study)
The love of money is the root of all evil. VS Money is the root of all evil.
http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/buildings.htm#UsefulVocab
See pictures of vocabulary, a dialogue, crossword puzzles, dictation/spelling, .
http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/rooms.htm#UsefulVocab
See pictures of vocabulary, a dialogue, crossword puzzle and jumbled words
I like to see specific categories of words (buildings, rooms, time, fruits and vegetables), and also idioms and informal contractions, which always confound students. There are a few that have online quizzes and pictures to help students understand better. Students who learned English the British way can find translations into American English, and even specific tools such as the Arabic Number to English convertor have a real value for students. Some of the sites are better than others, so if you find one particularly useful (or not at all useful), share it with your fellow bloggers.
http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.html
http://www.goenglish.com/Idioms.asp
Link to emotions (Unit 4) page:
http://homepage.smc.edu/harrop_adrianne/images/Emotions.jpg
http://homepage.smc.edu/harrop_adrianne/images/Emotions.jpg
By way of: http://wccniuesl.blogspot.com/2005/06/esl-vocabulary.html
ESL: Vocabulary
http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Vocabulary/
Another compendium.
This is a sub-page of The Internet TESL Journal's TESL/TEFL/TESOL/ESL/EFL/ESOL Links and includes sites such as
Arabic Number to English Convertor (Requires JavaScript.)
Enter a number up to 999,999,999 and see it spelled out in English.
BBC News English - Words in the News
Read, listen and learn the English in this week's stories.
Common Errors in English (Paul Brians)
Words that native English speakers frequently find confusing.
Common Usage Problems (Vicki Jones and Ann Bertoldie)
Words that native English speakers frequently find confusing.
English for You - Visual Fruit (Donald Hennessey)
Pictures of fruit and their names in English
English for You - Visual Veggies (Donald Hennessey)
Pictures of vegetables and their names in English
Expanding your Vocabulary (La Trobe University)
Brief hints for advanced students.
Language Adventure - Picture Quiz
Easy. Click on the picture of the word you hear. (WAV files)
Megellan's Log - Pronunciation Pairs (Sentences Using Heteronyms) (Douglas Milburn)
We polish the Polish furniture every day. I did not object to the object. etc.
Nick Miller's EFL/ESL Resource Material - Street & Map Terms (Nicholas E. Miller)
A list of words with definitions.
QuiaCom - Matching Quiz - Countries and Nationalities [FRAME] (AH Syed)
Quia.com activity -Columns
specialist.hu - ESL Topics and Vocabulary [FRAME] (English Specialist)
True/false and multiple choice quizzes on basic exam topics and vocabulary
Testing Vocabulary
By S. Kathleen Kitao & Kenji Kitao
The Compleat Lexical Tutor (Tom Cobb)
Test your word knowledge, Learn words at your level, Read & Listen, ...
Vocabulary - Extended Family Chart
A detailed family tree chart: paternal uncle's wife, maternal cousin, ....
Vocabulary Self-Study Quizzes (The Internet TESL Journal)
See the answers right away. Produced by teachers around the world.
Vocabulary Vulcanizer [FRAME] (Paige Jaeger)
Study 'roots' to improve vocabulary: Phobia (=Fear) claustrophobia, xenophobia
Word Safari: vocabulary expeditions (Ruth Pettis)
For native speakers and advanced students. Expand your English vocabulary while surfing the Web
WordOrigins.org's List of Words and Phrases (David Wilton)
baker's dozen, kick the bucket, left wing, Kilroy was here, ...
http://www.antimoon.com/other/activevocab.htm (Tomasz P. Szynalski)
Why it is normal to understand more English words than you can use
http://learners.englishclub.com/esl-articles/200109.htm (Josef Essberger)
Gonna, Ain't, Gimme, Gotta, Kinda, Wanna, Whatcha, ...
http://vocabulary.englishclub.com/interjections.htm (Josef Essberger)
Charts with meanings and examples: Ah, Alas, Dear, Eh, ...
http://vocabulary.englishclub.com/cw_say-tell.htm (Josef Essberger)
How to use say and tell.
http://vocabulary.englishclub.com/time_tell.htm (Josef Essberger)
UK English: 'just gone three o'clock'; Others: 'a quarter past three' etc.
http://www.forumeducation.net/servlet/pages/vi/mat/voc.htm (Sven Cederberg)
300+ word formation exercises
http://www.forumeducation.net/servlet/pages/vi/mat/voc.htm#1 (Sven Cederberg)
Example of random generated test from huge database
http://www.googlefight.com/cgi-bin/compare.pl?q1=%22The+love+of+money+is+a+root+of+all+evil%22&q2=%22Money+is+the+root+of+all+evil.%22&B1=Make+a+fight%21&compare=1&langue=us (Create Your Own Vocabulary Study)
The love of money is the root of all evil. VS Money is the root of all evil.
http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/buildings.htm#UsefulVocab
See pictures of vocabulary, a dialogue, crossword puzzles, dictation/spelling, .
http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/rooms.htm#UsefulVocab
See pictures of vocabulary, a dialogue, crossword puzzle and jumbled words
I like to see specific categories of words (buildings, rooms, time, fruits and vegetables), and also idioms and informal contractions, which always confound students. There are a few that have online quizzes and pictures to help students understand better. Students who learned English the British way can find translations into American English, and even specific tools such as the Arabic Number to English convertor have a real value for students. Some of the sites are better than others, so if you find one particularly useful (or not at all useful), share it with your fellow bloggers.
Required Texts
Title: The Big Picture - Idioms as Metaphors
Author: King,Kevin
Publisher: Houghton MifflinYear of publication: 1999
ISBN: 0395917123
Title: Vocabulary Connections Book II, Word Parts
Author: Reynolds, Marianne C.
Publisher: McGraw Hill
Year of publication: 1998
ISBN: 007052629x
Author: King,Kevin
Publisher: Houghton MifflinYear of publication: 1999
ISBN: 0395917123
Title: Vocabulary Connections Book II, Word Parts
Author: Reynolds, Marianne C.
Publisher: McGraw Hill
Year of publication: 1998
ISBN: 007052629x
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
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