There are many voice assistants, like Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana, or Alexa. Here’s a tutorial on how to use Siri (or any other such application) to practise your English: For advanced students, here are a few tips to improve your intonation when using a personal assistant: PLEASE NOTE that you need to be connected to […]
OpenTag: Speaking
Speaking materials & exercises
How to use Microsoft Learning Tool in OneNote/Word to learn English
Here’s a presentation on how to use Microsoft’s add-in Learning Tool in OneNote to improve your reading skills. Please note that this add-in is native to the latest versions of the suite, however if you need to install it in your Microsoft Office Suite, you can download here. That way you will be able to access […]
OpenSimple Future tenses
Let’s start off by checking out a Summary of the uses of the Future Simple Tenses. Here’s a clip on the use of the most frequent future simple tenses, Going to vs. Will: We shall look at and discuss the following presentation on the Future Simple Tenses structure and uses in class: Alternatively, you can download […]
OpenImproving your intonation with Lyrics: Chunking & Chanting
PART I: Chunking We will apply what we learnt about Intonation & Stress: Pick one of the following Lyrics and print it out: A1: What can I do (The Corrs) – Lyrics A2: Enjoy the silence (Depeche Mode) – Lyrics B1: Spending my time (Roxette) – Lyrics B2: Dear Jessie (Madonna) – Lyrics C1: Brand new day (Sting) – Lyrics Mark all the pauses […]
OpenRetelling a story
Read the following handout on capitalization, punctuation, and the use of similes & metaphors: Alternatively, you can browse the PDF file here. GRAPHIC ORGANISERS: The following diagrams can help you outline the main parts of the story you want to re-tell. The Writing Process Cloud Diagram Story Map Diagram Cause&Effect Diagram How to tell a story […]
OpenSummarising a story
The following Cloud Diagram can help you outline the main parts of a story you want to re-tell (like the latest film you saw at the cinema or your favourite novel: Alternatively, you can browse the PDF file here. OTHER GRAPHIC ORGANISERS: The Writing Process Story Map Diagram Cause&Effect Diagram How to tell a story […]
OpenDescription of a picture (Present tenses)
DESCRIPTION: Pick a Picture of a family and write a description using Present Simple and Present Continuous, including the following information: What do they look like What are they doing? What are they wearing? What is the weather like? EXERCISE: Use the template below as a guide to either complete an essay or a speech. Try to […]
OpenEnglish Intonation & Stress
Click on the following link to open a presentation on Intonation&Stress. Once you have read it, look at the following speech and listen to the clip below: EXERCISE: Underline all the content words. How many did you underline? Mark all the pauses with a forward slash, as in the example. How many pauses are there in […]
OpenIT in children’s education
DISCUSSION: Read this article on Nanny cams in Silicon Valley and answer the following questions: Do you agree with these parents’ view on education? Are they hypocrites? Are the nannys’ rights been jeopardised by the use of Nanny cams? To what extent can technology be beneficial / harmful for our children? Has there been a paradigm shift […]
OpenSilent Letters
Here’s a link to an activity on Silent letters in a number of English words.
OpenTest your transcription skills!
Print out and complete the following Transcription Exercise to practise phonetics.
OpenText to speech reader
Click on TTS Reader to write your sentences and have them read out loud for you.
OpenConnecting speech
Here’s a presentation on the use of Linking words in connected speech. As for writing, you can print out the following doc handout on TRANSITIONS, which you can complete with additional linking words that you may come across. Below there’s a video clip to learn how to use linking words when you speak or write:
OpenPronunciation Drill (Plurals, 3rd person)
Practise the -s ending (/s/, /z/, /iz/) by completing the following exercise: Pronunciation Drill.
OpenReading numbers
First, print out the quiz and cut the paper in half along the vertical line. You will need a partner to complete this speaking exercise. Simply read series of numbers out loud to your partner, who will need to write them all down, then switch roles and compare notes. Click on the following link: Numbers Quiz […]
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