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Uncensored English

englishplanet — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:13:18 GMT

This podcast covers the phrase to kick (someone’s / something’s) ass and kick-ass as an adjective. First we need to talk about the ass part. It can refer to a real ass (butt or bum), but usually the ass is metaphorical. That is, it’s not a question of a real-world, physical ass; the ass stands for something else. In fact, all usages of kick ass that don’t involve a physical foot connecting to a physical ass are metaphorical figures of speech

For example, “We got our ass(es) kicked in the football game last night” means “The other team beat us by a good margin.” It’s unlikely that any team member’s ass actually had contact with a foot

TIPS FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH

englishplanet — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:29:55 GMT

Here are some tips to help you on your teaching experience

Dress right. Jeans, sneakers, and just-out-of-bed hair may be okay for teachers in the U.S., but in many parts of the world, a neat appearance counts far more than credentials. In Korea dark clothes lend an air of authority. Red is to be avoided at all costs. In Morocco female teachers don’t wear pants, sleeveless blouses, or short skirts

Behave appropriately. When it asked 250 students at the Sichuan Institute of Foreign Languages in China what they liked and disliked about native speaker English teachers, the students’ main gripe was the informality of foreign teachers, who often seem to undermine their own authority by acting in undignified ways. In the U.S. teachers go on a first-name basis with students, sit on their desks, sip coffee, and even bounce off the walls without causing student discomfort or losing prestige. But these behaviors don’t export well

Don’t worry if students seem unresponsive at first. Americans are used to participatory classrooms with plenty of teacher-student dialogue. Elsewhere, students are often trained to be silent, good listeners, and memorizers. It’s disconcerting to stand in front of a sea of blank faces, but expecting it reduces the shock. Introduce new concepts, such as discussion and role-play gradually. You’ll be surprised at how students will come to embrace the change

Choose topics carefully. There are still many countries in the world where people are hesitant to voice opinions because of a fear of reprisal. If you’re conducting a classroom debate, remember that there’s a distaste for Western-style argumentation in Middle-Eastern societies, and in Japan it’s offensive for an individual to urge others to accept his opinion.
Certain topics may be taboo for cultural reasons: Most Americans don’t want to discuss their salaries or religious beliefs; Japanese may be disinclined to talk about their inner feelings; the French think questions about their family life are rude

Don’t ask, “Do you understand?” In China and Japan, students will nod yes, even if they’re totally lost, in an attempt to save face for the teacher. Even in a country as far west as Turkey, yes often means no

Avoid singling students out. Our society fosters a competitive individualism which is clearly manifested in our classrooms. American students are not shy about displaying their knowledge. In classrooms outside the U.S., however, showing solidarity with classmates and conforming to the status quo is often more important than looking good for the teacher. In Turkey and Montenegro students told me they disliked volunteering answers too often because it made them look like show-offs and attracted the evil eye of envy. If you want to play a game, make the competition among groups rather than among individuals. If you need to discipline a student, do so in private

Be aware of cross-cultural communication styles. French students appreciate wit. Venezuelan students like boisterous rapid-fire exchanges. In Japan, where debate is not as valued as in the U.S., students appreciate long pauses in discussions and silent “think time” after you ask a question. “Hollow drums make the most noise” goes a Japanese proverb, and Japanese students are uncomfortable blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. American teachers, who are uncomfortable with silence, tend to anticipate the student’s words or repeat their original question—both irritating interruptions for the Japanese student

Present a rationale for what you do in class. Your pedagogy is going to be very different from what students are used to. They’ll conform much more eagerly to new classroom content and procedures if they understand the benefits

Expect the best of your students. They’ll be serious about learning English because their economic advancement often depends upon mastering it

Relax and enjoy yourself. Happiness in the classroom is contagious.

Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

englishplanet — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:21:18 GMT

1. Translated texts

This is a great method to use in the beginning of your studies, when you can't handle reading (and understanding) a text solely in the foreign language you're emphasizing on. Translated texts act as a natural dictionary as they will involuntarily form connections as you read the two versions of the same text. The downside however is that if the texts are too ambiguous or too complicated, you risk misunderstanding entire phrases or mistakenly attributing meanings to certain words. That's why it's extremely important that the translated text you're working with is well written and doesn't have any slang, confusing words, words with different meanings and so forth. You should also look for the most basic translated texts at first. Don't worry if you find it silly to translate "It's hot during the summer", it's a starting point and you won't be better off skipping it.

2. Vocabulary games

Vocabulary games are a great way to enhance your word base, but they should usually be used only as an additional method for this purpose. The fact with vocabulary games is that they cannot teach you the same amount of new words as say translated texts or other methods that deal with improving your vocabulary, but they can be a fun alternative to take during those study breaks. Also, remember that everything we learn while relaxing and having fun is assimilated a lot easier and for a longer period of time.

3. Foreign language media

Media is obviously a strong source of vocabulary gain and the fun fact about it is that you won't be shedding a sweat learning the new words, as they will come naturally. Every bit of radio, TV, stationary ad, computer game or any other type of media you can watch or hear in the foreign language you're studying should be treated as an opportunity to improve vocabulary. Obviously, some languages will be harder to learn through this method, whereas others will be extremely easy (English/Spanish anyone?). If you find a good learning source, you could use foreign language media as a main method of vocabulary increase, but if these sources are scarce, you shouldn't rely solely on it.

Once you have a relatively good grasp on that language's vocabulary and you formed a solid word database with which you can work with, feel free to move on to more complex elements of the language, such as spelling, pronunciation, writing, grammar and so forth. As to where you can find translated texts, vocabulary games and even language-specific media, know that there are several language learning sites out there that provide such content for both novice and advanced students.

Idiom orgnizer 2

englishplanet — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:51:18 GMT

To be up
تمام شدن وقت
The time is up, the teacher said at the end of the hour.

To look blue
غمگین بودن
Why do you look so much blue today, are you interested to have a walk outside?

Breach of trust
خیانت در امانت
Don't you want to believe that his action is nothing, but the breach of trust.

To count on
اعتماد کردن
Don't count on Allen to lend you any money because he has none.

At times
گاهی اوقات
At times she feels a little better but then she becomes very weak again.

To make believe
وانمود کردن
George made believe that he was sick, so that he would not have to go to school.

Every other day
یک روز در میان
Every other day I go to the English class.

To put on the brake
ترمز کردن
Try to put on the brake, before you throw the car into a deep ditch.

Six ways to make people like you

englishplanet — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:48:17 GMT

Like other people as much as you can

Always try to have smile at your lips

Talk in terms of the other man's interest

Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely

Be a good listener. Encourgae others to talk about themselves

Remember that a man's name is to him the sweetest and most important sound

Idiom orgnizer 1

englishplanet — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:40:18 GMT

1- To lock out
کلید را در منزل جا گذاشتن و در بروی خود قفل کردن
He locked himself out and couldn't enter the house.

2- To look forward to
با اشتیاق انتظار چیزی را داشتن
I was looking forward to getting the letter but the postman didn't come..

3- To show someone round
کسی را به گردش بردن
Would you please show my teacher round.

4- Run down
خسته- فرسوده
You look run down, better to take a rest.

5- To give away
چیزی را بخشیدن
Can you give my friend this book away?

6- Removal man
کارگر اسباب کشی
To remove to my new house, I need three removal men.

7- To play a joke on someone
سربسر کسی گذاشتن
Don't play a joke on your younger sister.

8- To take up
یاد گرفتن
I must take this lesson up.

اهمیت فراگیری اصطلاحات

englishplanet — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:00:53 GMT

اصطلاحات (idioms) کلمات و عبارات ثابتی هستند کـه یـا از لحاظ گرامری غیرعادی هستند (مثل «Long time, no see!» و یا از این جهت که دارای معنی‌ای هستند که نمی‌تواند از معانی کلمات تشکیل دهنده آن استخراج شود (مانند: It's raining cats and dogs!).

هر زبانی دارای اصطلاحات خاص خودش می‌باشد و اغلب فراگیری آنها برای زبان‌آموزها دشوار می‌باشد.

مثال:

معنی تحت اللفظی (نه یک اصطلاح):

- She broke the ice with a small hammer and dropped it into the blender.

- او با کمک یک چکش کوچک یخ را شکست و آن را داخل دستگاه مخلوط کن انداخت.

معنی اصطلاحی (یک اصطلاح):

- Before the conference began, the speaker broke the ice with a joke.

- قبل از آغاز کنفرانس، گوینده با یک لطیفه کارش را شروع کرد.

همانطور که می‌بینید، این عبارت (to break the ice) دو معنی متفاوت دارد که معنی تحت‌اللفظی آن «شکستن یخ» و معنی اصطلاحی آن «کاری را آغاز کردن» می‌باشد.

افعال چند قسمتی (Phrasal verbs) نـوع دیگری از اصطلاحات هستنـد که آنهـا را اغلب در انگلیسی محاوره ای می‌توان شنیـد. ساختـار افعـال چنـد قسمتی بـه صورت فعل + حرف اضافه (verb + preposition) می‌باشد و غالباً از 2 و گاهی 3 کلمه تشکیل می‌شوند. یک فعل چند قسمتی برای خود معنی خاصی دارد که با معنی کلمات تشکیل دهنده آن متفاوت است.

چرا بزرگسالان باید انگلیسی بیاموزند ؟

englishplanet — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:24:59 GMT

هم اکنون بسیاری از بزرگسالان در سرتاسر جهان انگلیسی صحبت می کنند.همچنین تعداد زیادی از بزرگسالان نیز می خواهند که انگلیسی را یاد بگیرند یا مجبور به یادگیری آن هستند.

جدای از هدف یادگیری انگلیسی ، انجام این کار می تواند گام بسیار مهمی در زندگی شما باشد. مطمئنا این کار مستلزم مقداری کار و تلاش از جانب شما خواهد بود.

اما در نهایت در خواهید یافت که یادگیری انگلیسی ارزش این تلاش ها را دارد. بنابراین می خواهیم یک بررسی دقیق تری بر این موضوعات داشته باشیم که نخست : چرا به عنوان یک بزرگسال باید انگلیسی را یاد بگیریم و سپس یادگیری آنلاین انگلیسی برای بزرگ سالان چه مزیتی دارد؟!

دلایل یادگیری انگلیسی به عنوان یک بزرگسال :

قبل از هر چیز خیلی مهم است که شما اهداف خودتان را از یادگیری انگلیسی به عنوان یک فرد بزرگسال در نظر بگیرید. ممکن است تا کنون به این مسئله فکر نکرده باشد که یادگیری انگلیسی چقدر می تواند برای شما مهم باشد. در ادامه دلایلی را که شما باید اقدام به یادگیری انگلیسی کنید ، بیان شده است.

1) ارتقاء شغلی :

یادگیری زبان انگلیسی می تواند یک راه بسیار مفید برای ارتقاء شغلی شما نیز باشد. تعداد زیادی از شرکت ها همیشه به دنبال کارمندانی هستند که قادر به صحبت کردن به زبان انگلیسی باشند. بنابراین توانایی صحبت به زبان انگلیسی هنگام درخواست های شغلی برای شما به عنوان یک امتیاز محصوب خواهد شد. هر چقدر که حیطه کاری آن شغل جهانی تر باشد توانایی صحبت به زبان انگلیسی نیز برای آن مهم تر خواهد بود. بنابراین از همین حالا اقدام به یادگیری زبان کنید.

2) سلامت مغز :

سالم نگه داشتن مغز بسیار مهم است و شما باید همیشه در حال یادگیری باشید تا بتوانید مغز خود را فعال نگه دارید. یادگیری انگلیسی در بزرگسالی می تواند به شما کمک کند که مغز خود را در وضعیت مناسبی نگه دارید و این موضوع اثبات شده است که شرکت در فعالیت هایی مانند یادگیری زبان می تواند خطر مشکلاتی مانند بیماری آلزایمر را کاهش دهد.

3) آموزش به فرزندانتان :

اگر خودتان نتوانید انگلیسی صحبت کنید ، آموزش زبان به فرزندانتان سخت خواهد بود و سخت تر از آن فهماندن این موضوع به آنان است که یادگیری انگلیسی چقدر اهمیت دارد. بنابراین اگر انگلیسی را فراگرفته باشید ، خواهید توانست دانش زبانی خود را به فرزندانتان نیز آموزش دهید ، حتی اگر آن ها هنوز خیلی جوان باشند.

4) فرصت های مسافرتی :

یکی از دلایل ضرورت یادگیری انگلیسی توسط بزرگسالان فرصت های مسافرتی است. بسیاری از افراد تصمیم می گیرند که تعطیلات را در یک کشور انگلیسی زبان بگذرانند و اگر زبان آن کشور را ندانند ، گشت و گذار در آن کشور دشوار خواهد بود. یادگیری انگلیسی راهی بسیار عالی برای کسانی خواهد بود که می خواهند به یک کشور انگلیسی زبان سفر کنند.شما نیز پی خواهید برد که اگر زبان کشوری که به آن سفر کرده اید را بدانید ، سفر شما بسیار هیجان انگیزتر و جذاب تر خواهد بود. بنابراین اگر می خواهید از فرصت های مسافرتی به کشورهای انگلیسی زبان لذت ببرید ، قبل از رفتن اقدام به یادگیری انگلیسی نمایید.

به نقل از : www.ezaban.com

در باره تافل آی بی تی

englishplanet — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:08:39 GMT

Click here

Year's big celeb shockers, from Ledger to Hudson

englishplanet — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:26:18 GMT

HEATH LEDGER : When news broke of Heath Ledger's death at 28, the response was a collective, "You're kidding, right?" The "Brokeback Mountain" star died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, and many months later, it was still tough to fathom. The Australia-born Ledger left behind a 3-year-old daughter and a bright career. He earned posthumous raves — and Oscar buzz — for his frightening performance as the Joker in the Batman blockbuster " The Dark Knight ."

JENNIFER HUDSON'S TRAGEDY: The Oscar-winning actress and singer had a new fiance and solo album to boot when her worst nightmare came true. In late October, Hudson's mother and brother were found shot to death in the family home on Chicago's South Side , where Hudson grew up. Adding to the heartbreak, a frantic search began for her missing 7-year-old nephew Julian, whose body was discovered days later in the back of an abandoned SUV. Hudson's estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour , was formally charged with the triple murder the first week of December.