Language Bits

Have you been studying English for a long time and the only adjectives you ever use are: good, bad, nice, OK, beautiful and great? If that's the case, you might want to listen to this episode, in which I'll suggest the use of some regular and strong adjectives to help you colour the way you speak or write and make your discourse more expressive. I also talk about the use of adverbs to modulate the meaning of your adjectives (to make them sound stronger or weaker). Hopefully, you'll find this highly effective or even utterly fantastic!

If you would like to get in touch with me, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. 

See you next time!

[PODCAST IN SPANISH]

En este primer episodio de Language Bits en español, invité a mi ex-alumna y amiga Flávia Lange para hablar un poco sobre sus experiencias con el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras. Flávia es una empleada pública en Brasil, economista y abogada, además de entusiasta del estudio de lenguas. Ella tiene el nivel C1 de inglés comprobado por el CAE (Certificate of Advanced English) de la Universidad de Cambridge, además de ser alumna de español del nivel B2. Para practicar, preferió darme la entrevista en español. Hemos tenido incluso el sonido de los pajaritos desde su hogar...¡Espero que lo disfrutéis!

This is the first episode of Language Bits in which I made an interview: you'll get to know my students, Fernando and Renata, a Brazilian couple of B1 English students, who have had some experience travelling abroad. We talk about learning English, its ups and downs, and using English as you travel around. 

If you would like to contact me, write an e-mail to [email protected] or record an audio message on this podcast's Anchor page.

Hope you enjoy it!

[PODCAST IN ITALIAN]

In questo podcast, parlerò delle origini del vocabolario italiano: ci sono parole che hanno avuto origine dal latino, greco, ebraico, arabo, francese, inglese, spagnolo e portoghese.

Se hai domande o desideri interagire con me, invia un'e-mail a [email protected].

Grazie per il tuo gentile ascolto. Buona giornata! Ciao!

[PODCAST IN PORTUGUESE]

Neste primeiro episódio do podcast Language Bits em português, responderei à pergunta que dá nome ao episódio. Além disso, explicarei porque não acredito que exista uma variação linguística do português que seja "melhor" ou "mais correta" do que a outra, argumentando através de duas correntes opostas, a corrente colonialista e a corrente utilitarista ou colonialista ao reverso. Finalmente, falarei sobre as maiores diferenças entre as variantes vernaculares do português brasileiro e europeu em termos de vocabulário, pronúncia e sintaxe.

Caso queira participar desta discussão, fazer perguntas, corrigir informações que não acredite estarem completas ou simplesmente entrar em contato, escreva para o e-mail [email protected].

Um tigre triste, dois tigres tristes, três tigres tristes...

Elementary students (A0 to A2 levels) usually come up with unrealistic goals for their learning and soon enough lose all their original enthusiasm. They want to be able to read a book in English, to listen to music and to watch films without subtitles on their own language. These are goals to be achieved later on in your learning process but if you are an elementary student you should first master the art of repetition. 

On this episode I give you tips on how to use a simple Workbook exercise to maximise your repetition and consequently your Speaking skills. 

Books mentioned on this episode:

RAWLINGS, Alex: How to speak any language fluently - Fun, stimulating and effective methods to help anyone learn languages faster; ROBINSON, UK, 2017. Chapter 2: Using your time is mentioned, and pages 21 and 22 are read out loud (The 15/30/15 Routine).

LATHAM-KOENIG, Christina; OXENDEN, Clive; SELIGSON, Paul; HUDSON, Jane: English File Pre-Intermediate Workbook, 3rd Edition, OXFORD, 2012.

Students of English as a second language may find it very challenging to use the Present Perfect. Although they understand its form, they might find it hard to know what situations require the use of this tense. My approach here is to talk about form and compare it to German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. The latter is the most different to English in terms of form so Portuguese speakers will find it particularly difficult to master the use of Present Perfect. 

I also talk about the following uses of the Present Perfect, always comparing its structure to that of Portuguese:

a) for past experiences;

b) for recent past actions;

c) with yet and already for emphasis;

d) with for and since.

If you want to contact me, please send an e-mail to: [email protected] 

See you next time!

Hello everyone and welcome to the first episode of Language Bits.

On this first episode, I introduce myself,  say why I'm doing this podcast, what I'm going to do here, and who I think this podcast is for.

If you want to interact with me, please write to this e-mail: [email protected]

Thanks for listening!