Correct your mistakes

Hi all,

Some of you ask me how they can speak better.  You can improve your speaking with this link  and this one.
Here's a good page where you can watch videos, record your voice, get a score for your performance and compare it to the native speakers'. And this one is good to practise dialogues: Here listen to them.

MY BLACBERRY ISN'T WORKING with subtitles

Just for fun.

– I bought something from you last week, and I'm very disappointed.

0:06

 

– Oh yeah? What's the problem?

0:08

 

– Yeah, well, my blackberry is not working.

0:19

 

– What's the matter, it run out of juice?

0:23

 

– No, no, it's completely frozen!

0:28

 

– Oh, yeah, I can see that.

0:30

 

I tell you what: let's try it on orange.

0:37

 

– That's got a few black spots, you see...

0:39

 

– Oh, dear, yes. Sorry about that.

0:43

 

– Well, is there anything I can do to get my blackberry working?

0:47

 

– Well, could be an application issue.

0:49

 

Where'd you store that Blackberry?

0:51

 

– Well, it was on my desktop.

0:53

 

– Well, you could try using a mouse to drag the blackberry to the trash.

0:58

 

Then after you've done that,

1:00

 

you might wanna launch the blackberry from the desktop.

1:05

 

– Well, I've already tried that a few times.

1:08

 

I mean, all it did was mess up windows.

1:12

 

– Well, it might be worth waiting a couple of weeks.

1:14

 

They've got the latest blackberries coming in then.

1:16

 

– Well, could you give me a date?

1:17

 

– Certainly.

1:21

 

– Let me put that date in my diary.

1:25

 

– Anything else I can help you with?

1:27

 

– Yes, yes. I've also got a problem, to be honest,

1:29

 

with my apple.

1:34

 

– Oh, dear, oh, dear. That is an old apple, isn't it?

1:36

 

– Yeah. – When'd you buy that?

1:38

 

– Last week.

1:39

 

– Last week? They've brought out two new apples since then!

1:43

 

What's the problem with it?

1:44

 

– Well, I tried to put my dongle in it...

1:49

 

and it won't fit.

1:50

 

– Oh, yeah.

1:56

 

And how big's your dongle?

1:58

 

– Well, I don't know much about these things,

2:02

 

but my wife's seen a few dongles in her time...

2:06

 

and she says a little bit on the small side.

2:10

 

– Well, I'm afraid there's not a lot I can do about that.

2:13

 

Tell you what: let me try booting it.

2:19

 

Now it's crashed.

2:26

 

Anything else I can help you with?

2:27

 

– Well, funnily enough, yes.

2:29

 

My grandson's birthday's soon. – Oh, yeah.

2:31

 

– Now, he's already got an apple and a blackberry.

2:34

 

I mean, have you got anything else that he might just like?

2:37

 

– Well, we're doing a special offer on these.

2:39

 

I mean, I can't make head or tail of them,

2:41

 

but the kids seem to like them.

2:43

 

– Oh yeah? – "Eggs box," £3.60.

Advice for shy speakers

Hi all,

Here you have a video to help you with your oral  exam.

Hand of death -ed and -ing adjectives

PRACTICE

4.

a. Edwin is a charming host; he makes all his guests fell relaxed.

b. I thought that the meal was disgusting- it tasted revolting!

c. Small children can be very infuriating; they often make me feel annoyed.

d. I am usually confused by cricket; it is certainly complicated.

e. Don't expect to be excited by the play; I thought it was very disappointing.

5.

a. embarrassed  b. interesting, bored  c. amazing  d. depressed  e. confusing  f. exhausting, tired  g. exciting, fascinating  h. exhilarating, terrified.

TEST

7.

a. invigorating  b. tired  c. relaxing d. bored  e. exciting  f. disgusting  g. appalling  h. interested   i. charming  j. fascinating.

Preparing for your oral exams

Hi there again!

Here is a link to interesting pages that can help you prepare for the oral exam. You will find audio exercises and vocabulary.

Student Loans

1. for (2) 2. for 3. √ 4. from 5. to 6. per/a 7. √8. the 9. more 10. back 11.√ 12. the 13. √14. in 15. the (1) 16. √ 17. the

The Home Secretary Resigns

    1) Resignation  2) Speculation  3) Improper  4) Controversial  5) Outspoken 6) Accusation(s)  7) Application  8) Inquiry  9) Choice  10) Knowledge  11) Intolerant  12) Repressive  13) Terrorists/ Terrorism  14) Pretext   15) Freedom(s) 

John O'Connor flew to Shannon ...

1. west of 2. was 3. by 4. as 5. gone 6. attracted 7. happened 8. told 9. largely 10. over 11. thing 12. the other 13. strongest 14. land 15. on the whole 16. kept 17. turn up 18. but 19. offer 20. worthy. 

The telephone in The USA key

0. became 1. in 2. applied 3. through 4. just 5. achieved 6. close 7. but 8.filled 9. saying 10. giving 11.come 12. within 13. figure 14. level 15. on.

I recently visited Thailand...

1 would 2 due 3 before 4 last 5 that 6 plenty 7 my 8 however 9 quite 10 insisted 11 me 12 out 13 although 14 finally 15 which 16 as 17 it 18 all 19 least 20 only.