FACE UP TO PHRASALS

Check out - checked out - checked out

Meaning: If you check something out, you look at it or examine it to find out more about it.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

We're going to check out the new club
We're going to check the new club out
We're going to check it out

We're going to check out it - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: There's a great movie on TV tonight – you must check it out!

Synonyms: inspect, investigate, explore, examine, look into

Log on – logged on – logged on

Meaning: If you log on, you connect your computer to a system or network, usually by typing a username and password.

Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't need an object. If you want to use an object, you need to use the preposition 'to'. The object must go after the preposition.

He logged on
He logged on to the network

He logged to the network on - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: I haven't finished my work because there was a fault in the network and I couldn't log on until 4 o'clock.

Synonyms: log in, get in, get into, connect, access

Tips for Pronunciation

The sounds of English
There is a system of symbols for writing the sounds of English. We have a guide to these symbols and also videos to show how to pronounce each of the sounds. 

There are also activities to practise identifying the difference between certain sounds which may sound similar.

Features of English
Information about different elements of English pronunciation. 

There are also interactive and downloadable exercises to help you build your understanding of these areas.

QuizzesInteractive quizzes to test your knowledge of and help you learn about English pronunciation. 

Programmes
Three radio programmes from 2005 on the topic of pronunciation. You can download the full programmes along with the script and audio examples.

THE ENGLISH WE SPEAK

The script for this programme

Jen: Hello, I'm Jennifer. Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm joined today by Li. Hi Li!

Li: Hi Jen!

Jen: I thought that Neil was supposed to be joining me today - where is he?

Li: Oh Jen, haven't you heard? He's very, very sick. I heard the boss saying he has man flu!

Jen: Man flu! That's probably correct.

Li: Is man flu very contagious? Perhaps we had better clean all of our desks in case we get infected too?

Jen: No, I think we'll be OK, Li.

Li: No... I think that we should all go to the doctor's to see if we can get an immunisation.

Jen: I really wouldn't worry too much about it.

Li: But Jen, you should take it more seriously! All types of flu are very bad - it can leave you very sick for many weeks!

Jen: Well, proper flu can, yes. Flu is short for influenza, which is a very infectious virus. It can cause fever, headaches, coughing... And some strains, or types of flu, can cause death!

Li: Death! Oh, I don't want Neil to die. Should we send him some flowers?

Jen: Hold on a second. Neil won't die. Man flu is a bit different to normal flu. In fact, it's not even a real virus.

Li: So what is man flu, then?

Jen: In English, when a man gets a minor cold or perhaps a sore throat, many women refer to it as man flu.

Li: Why?

Jen: Well, lots of men tend to exaggerate their symptoms when they have a minor illness; in other words, they make it sound worse than it actually is.

Li: I see! So when the boss said that Neil had man flu, she meant that he had a small cold, but is exaggerating his symptoms.

Jen: That's right!

Li: Well, I want to talk to him. I'm going to phone him right now and get him to come into work.

Jen: Oh dear...

Phone rings

Li: Hello Neil, yes, I've heard you're very sick... Yes, yes, that's terrible. I just wanted to let you know that we're having a party in the office tonight, and I'm going to bring lots of lovely food and cakes for everyone. It's a shame you can't make it because you're too sick... Oh, oh really? OK then!

Li puts phone down

Li: He's coming into work now.

Jen: Why did you tell him we're having a party?

Li: I thought if I told him there was going to be food and cakes that he might decide to come into work, after all!

Jen: Wow, Li, I think you've just found a cure for man flu - cake!

Li: Just call me Doctor Li!

Jen: Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak from bbclearningenglish.com. Bye for now!

Li: Bye!

This script teach us that when they use the phrase: MAN FLU, they are talking about a man that has a little flu but he is exaggerating, because we are lazy.

I don´t agree with this script because not only the men are exaggerating, th women also exaggerate.

KEY WORD TRANSFORMATION

I worked on website that have similar exercises to the FCE, this time I made an exercise to transform a sentence to the same idea with a different word, they gave me a key word that I have to use.

Here is an Example:
John said he was sorry he had lost the tickets. (APOLOGISED)
John apologised for losing the tickets.

In a sentence I dont have idea of the answer beacause I didnt know the meaning of the key word this key word was: DESPITE, and I investigate what was the meaning and then I understood the idea of the sentence.

de·spite  (d-spt)

prep.

In spite of; notwithstanding: won the game despite overwhelming odds.

n.

1. Contemptuous defiance or disregard.

2. Spite; malice: "He died soon after . . . of pure despite and vexation" (Sir Walter Scott).

 

Using the word JOKE

I heard a conversation in BBC from the programme : The english we speak and they teached me that the word joke its not always funny, you can use it to say that it was not serious.

Here is the script for the conversation:

Helen: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, I'm Helen. With me today is quite a frustrated-looking Neil. Neil, what are you doing to that mobile phone?

Neil: Argh, I can't get it to make a phone call. It does everything else: it takes photos, it connects to the internet, it even irons my shirts but it won't make a call!

Helen: Your mobile phone irons your shirts?

Neil: No, not really, but honestly it does everything apart from the one thing I want it to do – make a phone call. It's a joke!

Helen: A joke? But you're not laughing. It can't be a very funny joke.

Neil: Well if you say something is a joke in English it can also mean that it's not very good or not worthy of respect.

Helen: Yes, 'joke' has a second meaning.

Example:

• The investigation into police corruption was a complete joke. Everyone knows the officers were taking money but they were let off.

• The weather forecast was a total joke. It said it would be warm and sunny but it's freezing and raining.

Helen: As you heard there in the example, the person described an investigation into police corruption as a joke. This doesn't mean it was funny. It means it wasn't serious. Also the weather forecast was so bad it was described as a joke.

Neil: Notice that you can add words before 'joke' to make the meaning even stronger. It's a complete joke.

Helen: A complete joke.

Neil: It's a total joke.

Helen: A total joke.

Neil: It's an absolute joke.

Helen: Anyway Neil, why don't you just read the instructions for your new mobile phone? Then you'll probably be able to work out how to make a call.

Neil: I looked at the instructions but they're an absolute joke.

Helen: Oh really?

Neil: Well for a start they are in about 17 languages apart from English.

Helen: What a joke!

Neil: Yeah I know.

Helen: Well we've heard lots of jokes in today's programme but there hasn't been much laughing.

Neil: Argh, what a useless piece of …

Helen: Let's hope Neil finally works out how to use his phone.

Neil: Argh, this is beyond a joke, it really is…

Helen: Join us again for The English We Speak.

Neil: Argh, mobiles…

BBC LEARNING ENGLISH

SHUT UP

 I listened to the programme to learn how and when to use this phrase. It's a useful expression but I have to be careful when using it.

Li is being noisy in the cinema and Rosie tells her to shut up. Here´s the script:

(Li and Rosie are at the cinema)

Li: No, come on... Don't do it! Don't do it!

Rosie: Li... She's an actress in a film, she can't hear you. And besides, it's rude to talk in the cinema.

Li: But it's just so frustrating. Don't go into the house! Don't do it! Oh, no! I can't watch!

Rosie: Li, shut up!
Li: I know, he's shut her up in that house and won't let her go. She's his prisoner now...
Rosie: No, Li... I was telling you to shut up. It's a rude way of saying 'Be quiet.'
Spectator: Excuse me, will you please shut up?
Rosie: I'm really sorry. Li, I can't take you anywhere.
Li: Oh well look, the film is over now, anyway. Sorry about the talking, but I just get a bit carried away.
Rosie: Well, I'm sorry I told you to shut up. It is quite a rude expression in English, but you just kept talking and wouldn't shut up!
Li: So can I tell someone to shut up when they're making noise?
Rosie: You can, but it's informal and can be rude. So, if you're in a formal context, you should say something like "Could you please be quiet?"
Li: OK, so in a meeting, if someone is speaking, I won't tell them to shut up. I'll say: "Could you please be quiet?" But if I'm really annoyed at one of my friends, I can tell them to shut up.
Rosie: Yes, although sometimes it's used when people are joking in English. Let's listen to some examples:

• "I'm so tired. And thirsty. When are we going to get there? If only you'd drive a bit faster..."
• "Will you please shut up? I can't concentrate with your constant moaning."

• "I look fat in this dress. It's so clingy!"
• "Oh shut up! You look great."

• "I just read the whole book in an hour."
• "Shut up! No one can read that quickly."

Rosie: So in that first example, we heard the expression 'shut up' used in a serious way. But in the second and third examples, it doesn't mean we want someone to be quiet - it means: "I don't believe you" or "Don't be ridiculous!"
Li: So when someone says something silly or ridiculous, we can say 'shut up'. And again, we only really do this with people we know well as it's informal. You've been warned!
Rosie: Well, one thing's for sure, I'm never, and I mean never, going to the cinema with you again.
Li: Shut up! I don't believe you... You love going to cinema with me. I always buy you popcorn!
Rosie: Shut up! I always get the popcorn!
Li: Oh, shut up.
Rosie: You shut up...
Li: No you shut up.

I liked this programme because I didnt know how to use the famous word "shut up" , I only used this phrase in case that I´m angry and want to someone be quiet , but in a rude way.

Use of English

I´m practicing my vocabulary in one page on the web, the URL is http://www.vocabulary.com/ , in this sites there are fast questions that help you to increase your vocabulary, I like this page because if you have a wrong answer they send you the right answer with an explanation about the meaning of the word with some examples.

My problem is that I have to read more , because sometimes I have to read several times the text to understand it , this exercises are very helpful to practice reading , you have to read texts and they give you a word , and you have to choose a synonym that it is the right answer.

Listening

http://privateenglishportal.com/peppypodcasts/Businesspodcast1free.mp3
I like to make the listenings tests , this time I listen to a podcast with conversation of a guy that gave me tips for a job interview , in this times it is very difficult to get a job because there is a lot of people in the world looking for a nice job , in the past it was very easy because not all the people have the opportunity to study, now you can prepare very nice for be a good candidate for a company

It is very important to learn english beacuse in the jobs you sometimes you have to comunicate with people of other countries , english is a  basic language.

Tests from FCE

http://www.splendid-speaking.com/products/wotd/index.html

I made the vocabulary daily quiz and the exercise was about splendid expressions according to the topic used , it was about money , they help us to understand more about the exercises that are coming in the FCE , first there were some questions where you have to complete the  phrase expression according to the topic.

In the exercise you learn the splendid expressions because it helps you a lot if you go to London and you have to buy something or sell something, beacuse if someone of the country tells you something you have to answer with a good phrase according to the splendid expressions.

The second question I wasn´t very sure if the answer was correct because first I thought the answer was : Free-handed and I was incorrect the correct answer was empty-handed , this example that I´m exposing is telling us clearly that they will confuse us with very similar answers.
     

Introduction

Hi! my name is Horacio Quiroz Saucedo I´m 15 years old , I´m from the group 510 my original teacher is Violeta, but from the FCE course I have a teacher named Marsella , she also gave me an english advance course in 4th grade.
I like the english language since the kindergarden, I want to learn more languages to have the opportunity to talk with people from other countries , in junior high school I started to learn french but just a little.It would be awesome if I pass the FCE.   

Practice Listening tests

I´ve made some listenings exercises from this sites: *http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/index.php
The first exercises are very easy but when you are advancing the difficulty gets higher , but of course it´s a good exercise for the preparation for the FCE.

*http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate2/listening/fce01a.htm
This exercise is very easy but it´s nice to start with easy exercises , because during the course we will increase our difficulty level.
The exercise is named Crosslands it is a description from an old woman , we have to listen her description from her house of her grandparents , she lived there in her childhood , she loved the smell from the kitchen and it was very warm always.