18 July 2016 / by Marjan Van Rij

Some tips for your English students during summer break

Have you already made plans for this summer? Going to the beach, the mountains or visiting family? What about your EFL or ESL students? Will they keep on studying English if they're not going abroad? It might be a good idea to give them something to do, right? Therefore I've listed here some activities to keep them busy in a easy way without you having to check any homework. So let the progress continue of your English students during summer break!
Cooking recipes

Give your students some cooking recipes in English which they can try out during summer break. Make sure that you give them everything in English: the grocery list and instructions. You can find recipes on the web with videos, with instructions (in American English or British English) or you can give them one of your own favourites. Here are two of mine: Chicken pot pie & scones. You can even take it to the next level and let your students organize an English evening in which they can play some charades, cook a lovely dinner and only speak English with eachother.
Ted Talks

A great platform for short interesting videos is Ted.com. Your students can search for any topics they like and watch a short (or longer) video about it. This website offers them full transcripts or subtitles in any language they prefer. Of course, it depends on your students which one will be best. That's why I recommend you to have a look beforehand and already select one or two videos for your students to watch. Some of my personal favourites are Why I keep speaking up & What makes a good life.
Lyrics training

A helpful tool to practise listening which English students can use on their own can be found on lyricstraining.com. Students can select the language of the songs and browse for any song they want to practise with. They're able to choose their own level (beginner, intermediate, advanced or expert) and listen to lyrics while doing a fill in the gap activity.

04

February 2012
I wish to....... What do you wish to do?
by Radmila Gurkova
I wish to complain….. ‘I wish to’ can mean the same as ‘I want to’ but it is really formal and not very common. However the word ‘wish’ can vary in definition. Wish as a noun means ‘offer good wishes’ I wish you the best with your new job. We wish you a merry Christmas Wish can also b...

04

February 2012
anymore..... What don't you do anymore?
by Radmila Gurkova
Anymore: any longer, nowadays Example: Harry doesn’t travel anymore. Anymore is properly used in a statement about a change in a previous condition or activity. It is often spelled as a two words, any more, but most authorities accept it as a...

04

February 2012
Sorry for or sorry about?
by Radmila Gurkova
Sorry for or sorry about? Do you know when to use the correct one? Sorry for expresses pity, remorse I feel sorry for her I’m sorry for your loss Sorry about expresses regret and disappointment He is sorry for arriving late to class She is sorry about destr...

03

February 2012
A Doodle for Google
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhVp9gcxLJY Google Doodles are the google logo made into fun images to celebrate anniversaries, lives of famous people like pioneers, scientists or artists, and special events taking place around the world. The google doodle began in 1998 when the co-founders of google placed a stick-man on their logo to indi...

03

February 2012
Twittering with feathered friends
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npjOSLCR2hE Are you a “Bird Watcher” Do you know many people who are? The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) say that this year there has been a decline in wild birds in the garden. The RSPB say that this time of year food is scarce leading to a possibility that wild birds...

03

February 2012
Friday Fun: The History of English #5
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVDmFVx8O_A&feature=youtu.be The history of the English language posts continue with this video that covers the impact of science on the development of the English language. Are there any words mentioned in the video that you use in your work? Do you know how much of English comes from Latin? ...

27

January 2012
Your Textbook on the iPad – no way!!
by Radmila Gurkova
Apple re-invents the way you can read your textbook, make electronic notes on the text page, highlight images and basically learn - in a more interactive, modern way.  No more looking through old textbooks or wondering in amazement if you have the latest one only the week after you have purchased it. Apple yet again sets the boundaries in ins...

27

January 2012
Become...
by Radmila Gurkova
When do we use become? Example:  I became interested in teaching when I came to barcelona ...

27

January 2012
Get...
by Radmila Gurkova
I got interested in teaching 5 ye...

27

January 2012
Few, a Few.....
by Radmila Gurkova
FEW - a small number of Can I ask y...