13 questions to ask yourself about:
Cambridge C1 review
+ pdf sample
Continue reading “CAMBRIDGE C1 ADVANCED (CAE) REVIEW – TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE”
10 very Kiwi words or phrases
 |
 |
 |
1. KIWI
This little word rich in meanings.
Imagine that I say this: “There is a kiwi under the tree.”
Well, I could be referring to the fruit on the left, but if I were in New Zealand also to a native nocturnal flightless bird, and last but not least, I could be saying that there is someone from New Zealand under the tree, as this is also a nickname for New Zealanders. For the record, the nickname refers to the bird, not the fruit. It is not offensive, quite on the contrary New Zealanders are proud of it.
10 very American English words
BANGS
Bangs, used in the plural, are the equivalent of a fringe in British English. In other words, hair cut short over your forehead.
One of the theories regarding the origin of this word is the term “bang tail”, a way in which horsetails are cut.
“Her bangs give her a very stylish 1920s look”.
(UK) Fringe Continue reading “10 very American English words”
CAMBRIDGE C1 ADVANCED (CAE) PROPOSAL – TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
If you found your way to this post, you must be an advanced student and quite likely, also a candidate for Cambridge C1 Advanced. In that case, you might as well be familiar with the information I am going to share here. Having said that, you can still use this post as a tool to help you revise and rethink what a proposal is all about. Continue reading “CAMBRIDGE C1 ADVANCED (CAE) PROPOSAL – TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE”
VISUALS: 9 common mistakes and how to avoid them
Here are 9 mistakes that pop up regularly in conversations with students. Have a look and make sure these are not a problem for you. There will be more posts on this matter. You can subscribe to my mail list* if you want to be in the loop.
*Just send me an email with the words “mail list” in the subject.
Continue reading “VISUALS: 9 common mistakes and how to avoid them”
PHRASAL VERBS: Grammar patterns 1
The sooner you make friends with phrasal verbs, the easier your life as an English learner becomes. The difficulty that they are associated with and the sheer number of them should not stand in the way if you have the right approach. As with everything in life, small steps will take you far. There is a lot to be said about systems to learn them effectively and progressively and the keyword here is context (see footnote), but what this blog post will hopefully do is give you an understanding of how to use them well in terms of grammar and that is a solid first step. Continue reading “PHRASAL VERBS: Grammar patterns 1”
Learning collocations: vaccine
Following the latest developments in vaccines for Covid-19, this term has become commonplace in our conversations. Therefore, it seems the perfect time to learn how to use it in context. In other words, to learn some collocations or words that are used with it naturally.
A vaccine can protect somebody against something (e.g. flu) or it can prevent something (e.g. a vaccine to prevent tuberculosis). Continue reading “Learning collocations: vaccine”
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay (Mini-series Part 3) – Final tips
Take every essay assignment as a golden opportunity to start training for exam day
I have hardly seen any students rejoice at the idea of writing an essay task for homework but here is the key to achieving that level of confidence you are aiming at. If you are consistent in dedicating time to writing periodically before exam day, you will get there with, admittedly, considerable effort, but also with the guarantee that the essay will not be a problem for you. Continue reading “Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay (Mini-series Part 3) – Final tips”
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay (Mini-series Part 2) – Writing Stage
This is the second part of a CAE Essay writing mini-series of blog posts. Click here for part 1.
Let’s begin by taking a step into the future. To make sure your essay is up to the mark, you should be able to answer with a “yes” to the following questions once you have finished your writing:
- CONTENT: Did I cover all the points?
- COMMUNICATIVE ACHIEVEMENT: Did I use the right register and develop the points effectively?
- ORGANISATION: Are my ideas organised into a suitable layout?
- LANGUAGE: Did I make use of advanced grammar structures and appropriate connectors?
Continue reading “Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay (Mini-series Part 2) – Writing Stage”
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay (Mini-series Part 1) – Getting started
There is no choice here. If you take the CAE -C1 Advanced, the essay is mandatory.
It is, therefore, crucial to be prepared and well-informed about what is expected of you. Daunting as it may seem at first, breaking it down into smaller tasks will help you get the hang of it. Let’s give some thought to what to do before you start writing. This simple action will guide you through and help you elaborate a successful piece of writing.
Continue reading “Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Essay (Mini-series Part 1) – Getting started”