Websites for English Practice

Vocabulary

1st 1000 most commons words list (PDF file to print)

2nd 1000 most common words list (PDF file to print)

http://www.eslgold.com/vocabulary/words_phrases.html


Listening

http://www.listenaminute.com/ (short daily listenings on a variety of topics)

http://www.dailyesl.com/ (listening and vocabulary exercises)

http://eslnews.org.nz/ (New Zealand news)

http://www.elllo.org/

http://www.esl-lab.com/

Advanced listening

www.ted.com (inspirational talks about technology)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/

Reading

http://www.eslfast.com/ (short stories)

http://eslnews.org.nz/ (NZ news stories)

New Zealand Speed Readings Book 1 (PDF file - readings start from page 13)

New Zealand Speed Readings Book 2 (PDF file - readings start from page 13)

Asian and Pacific Speed Readings (PDF file - readings start from page 12)

Writing

http://writefix.com/

http://www.dcielts.com/writing-2/essays/

Speaking

http://vocaroo.com/ (record and listen to yourself)

http://www.shiporsheep.com/ (pronunciation)

http://www.trainyouraccent.com/ (pronunciation)

Slang (informal language)

http://www.ezslang.com/

Support for permanent residents

http://www.literacy.org.nz/ (literacy and writing support)

PASSIVES - when you CAN'T use passive

This page outlines when you CAN'T use passive:


http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/passive1d.html

NOTE: The sentences marked in YELLOW are mistakes.

Summer School Songs to Enjoy

Summer School Songs to Enjoy

Jean-Paul's choice: Zhen's choice (surpise!): Lee's choice: Sam's choice:

          "Home"

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Ding's choice:




Lyrics

You arrive, in the rising sun.
The hidden passenger, that I've been taking.
Close your eyes, let's forget again.
As you drag me down, I will take you in.

What are you waiting for?
Just surrender here tonight.
What are you waiting for,
as we go towards the light?

When everything is said and done,
Still looking for answers, if only one.
Turn my back, the urge has gone.
Left with no reason, we come undone.

I am caught, in your slow release,
seems like your traveler's, eager to move me
My reflection, will slowly fade
to another time until my head escapes

What are you waiting for?
Just surrender here tonight.
What are you waiting for,
as we go towards the light?

When everything is said and done,
Still looking for answers, if only one.
Turn my back, the urge has gone.
Left with no reason, we come undone.

Grace's choice:



Lrics:

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came

You cast a spell on me, spell on me
You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me
And I decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no-one else can see, you and me

Turn the lights out now
Now I'll take you by the hand
Hand you another drink
Drink it if you can
Can you spend a little time,
Time is slipping away from us so stay,
Stay with me I can make,
Make you glad you came

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

You cast a spell on me, spell on me
You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me
And I decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no-one else can see, you and me

Turn the lights out now
Now I'll take you by the hand
Hand you another drink
Drink it if you can
Can you spend a little time,
Time is slipping away from us so stay,
Stay with me I can make,
Make you glad you came

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came
So glad you came
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

Self-study over the summer

Welcome to the lovely summer holidays!

Some of you will have some spare time to do English study. That is great news! You can definitely learn a lot, even studying by yourself!

If there is anything you would like added to this blog, please email:

hana.craig@weltec.ac.nz

Study over the summer period

Weltec's Computing Made Easy classes (Free)

For information, click here


Community Education Centre classes (Wellington)

Read about the centre here

Check out courses starting soon:

http://www.cecwellington.ac.nz/upcoming-courses

American Presidential Debate 2

  You can watch and read the answers from the Presidential candidates here:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/17/us/politics/20121017-second-presidential-debate-obama-romney.html?smid=fb-share

Employment: Finding the right job for you

WHICH JOB SHOULD I DO IN THE FUTURE?

You will do a quiz to find out which jobs might suit you:

http://www2.careers.govt.nz/tools/careerquest/questionnaire/#questionId=58

• There are over 70 questions. Take your time and check a dictionary if you don't know the meaning of a word. You can use Google Tranlsate or the Macmillan dictionary.

• You might get many results - you can use the "filter" on the right to cut down the number.

• Choose five jobs from the final list that interest you and write them on your sheet.

• Now look at NZ's top job search website to find out how much money you can earn in each job. Write down the minimum, average, and miximum salary next to each job on your worksheet.

BUILD YOUR OWN CV

You will create your own CV using the special software.

1. First, make a list of your skills. Watch this video for ideas. Take notes as you watch.

http://knowyourskills.careers.govt.nz/

2. Next, go to this part of the Careers website:

http://www2.careers.govt.nz/tools/cv4me/

3. Choose: "lots of work experience" or "little or no experience" depending on your situation.

WRITE A COVER LETTER (this goes with your CV when you apply for a job)

http://www2.careers.govt.nz/how-to-get-a-job/cvs-and-cover-letters/templates/#c31187


SEARCH FOR A JOB

These are the most popular websites in New Zealand for looking for a job.

http://www.seek.co.nz/

www.trademe.co.nz (this will not work on Weltec computers - try on your computer at home)

PREPARE FOR A JOB INTERVIEW

General advice about doing a job interview

http://www2.careers.govt.nz/how-to-get-a-job/interviews/

A list of common interview questions

http://www2.careers.govt.nz/how-to-get-a-job/interviews/tips-for-answering-interview-questions/

Some good advice for your interview from NZ's top job search website

http://www.seek.co.nz/jobs-resources/get-your-dream-job/interview-success

Articles for Stage 5

Information about articles and a pop quiz (short quiz)

http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/POS/pos9.htm


A general quiz on articles

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/216.html

A famous people quiz using articles

http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/fampeople.html

A health club quiz using articles

http://a4esl.org/q/h/9901/cw-articles.html

Art for Stage 4 - Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh

A video about his life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycIJtdlL-FY

Watch and answer these questions:

- What happened when Vincent turned fifteen?
- Which of Van Gogh’s family members was he closest to?
- What did Van Gogh do when he was 28?
- How many languages did Van Gogh speak?
- How old was he when he died?

Listen to a song about his life:

http://esl-bits.net/Songs/People/Vincent/default.html

Click on the button at the top to hear the song.

Enjoy!

Stage 5 Online research - the driving age

Driving ages around the world

http://www.2pass.co.uk/ages3.htm

Driving in New Zealand:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/

NZ news story on the drivng age:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4962987/Driving-age-to-increase-to-16

UK information:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022661

Information about young drivers

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9672/

Task: Read the information on these websites and take notes of ideas to use in your essay:

"Should the driving age be raised?"

Tag questions for Stage 5

http://a4esl.org/q/h/fb006-bp.html

Explanations

Gerunds vs Infinitives for Stage 5

What are infinitives?

http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/infinitives.html

What are gerunds?

http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/gerunds.html

An explanation of when to use GERUNDS (verb+ing) or INFINITIVES (to + verb)

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/part_1.htm

Go to the bottom of the page to do some practice quizzes.

Basic / intermediate and advanced quizzes


Write any new words or grammar onto your worksheet.

Verb forms quiz

More explanation on the grammar of gerunds and infinitives

 

Passives Practice for Stage 5

Continuous Passives

Quiz 1

Quiz 2

Quiz 3


Mixed tenses

Quiz

Other exercises

Quiz 1

Quiz 2

Listening websites for Stage 5 - Science, technology and medicine

Check out this website to find videos and quizzes:

http://www.eslvideo.com

Futures practice for Stage 5

Information and Quiz:

Talking about the Future

Information and Quiz:

Future plans

More practice on future forms (quiz):

Mixed futures

New Zealand Culture

This website outlines a lot of interesting facts about New Zealand culture on these topics:

• Conversations
• Communication Styles
• Dress, Punctuality & Formality
• Preferred Managerial Qualities
• Hierarchy and Decision-making
• Religion, Class, Ethnicity, & Gender
• Relationship-building

• Privileges and Favouritism
• Conflicts in the Workplace
• Motivating Local Colleagues

• Recommended Books, Films & Foods
• In-country Activities
• National Heroes
• Shared Historical Events with Canada
• Stereotypes

Pronunciation Websites

This website helps you to practice two different sounds. Click on the sounds you want to practice.

http://www.shiporsheep.com/

This is a course with lessons. Try them out : )

http://www.english-online.org.uk/pronounce/pronounce.htm

Practice for August 15th

Talking about travel

Talking about giving directions (Use Hana's handout)

The Olympics (print the handout first)

To PRINT:
1. Click on PDF (top left).
2. Go to "File" and click on "Print".
3. Click on "Pages" and type in 2 - 5 (because we only want to print these pages)

How to get to the airport

Grammar Practice

each / every 1

each / every 2
so / because

if

Listen to this:

Directions

English Songs to Enjoy!

Which version do you prefer?

Directions Listening (intermediate)

Directions through town (1)


Directions through town (2)

Directions through town (3)

Social Issues Listening (intermediate)

A healthy lifestyle

Alcohol addiction

Parenting

Personal security