As blind as a bat...

Loca como una cabra...

If you tell someone 'he is as crazy as a goat', they won't understand what you are talking about... because

This Spanish idiom expression does not exist in English as such. It so happens with most idiomatic expressions of the like: they have not an equivalent in our language or viceversa. 



I've found this link which will help you study some of these so called 'similes' > as ..... as/ like...

Eg. He is as cool as a cucumber...

      I've got a head like a sieve...

 

 

(C) Dulce               :-)

Saint Patrick is coming...

On March 17th they celebrate Saint Patrick
The patron saint of IRELAND*
Here you have a few activities to know about it...

1. A reading activity. See here.

2. Listen and watch the funny video below and
do activity: Click to see/print it.

*Find more about Saint Patrick holiday and traditions HERE!
KEY to activities.

I hope you enjoy it and improve your English and knowledge of Irish Culture!
............................................................................................................................................

I Speak English... Do You?

How to become a more confident English speaker:

DUDE: Amer. For ‘mate’ or friend (tío)

DUH: interj. Used to express what is being said is too obvious

• Practise where and when you can. Any practice is good – whether you speak to someone who is a native English speaker or not!

• It's important to build your confidence. If possible, use simple English sentence structure that you know is correct, so that you can concentrate on getting your message across.

• Try to experiment with the English you know. Use words and phrases you know in new situations. 

• Read, read, read. It’s good to read aloud long texts, and listen to the CD if you feel you have to correct your pronunciation.

• Listen to English songs and SING! That also helps a lot to improve your pronunciation. There are millions of songs in English, for sure some you’ll find you like!

• Try to respond to what people say to you. You can often get clues to what people think by looking at their body language. Respond to them in a natural way.

• Try NOT to translate into and from your own language. This takes too much time and will make you more hesitant.

• If you forget a word, try to use a similar one or explain using other words you know well. Also you can say ‘ummm…’, or ‘er…’, until the right words come. This is better than keeping completely silent.

• Don't speak too fast! It's important to use a natural rhythm when speaking English, but if you speak too fast it will be difficult for people to understand you.

• Try to relax when you speak – you'll find your mouth does most of the pronunciation work for you. When you speak English at normal speed, you'll discover that many of the pronunciation skills, such as linking between words, will happen automatically.

• Speak on and on... Your accent may be British or American, both are understood ( at least most of the time!)   :-)

A Visit to 'Le Louvre'...

Are you getting Bald?

Here is an interesting piece of BBC News
on why we men go bald!

Enjoy it!
:-)

D.

If You Drive > don't drink, or viceversa...:-)

An old song so appropriate these days.
Enjoy my dear Stevie Wonder



HAPPY 2011

Word Formation

In CAE (Cambridge Advanced Examinations) we find Use of English exercises which assess your  language command as far as grammar is concerned. I've found a few on this page (see below) which you might find useful...

JUST TO START...Read texts A & B, and in each of the gaps write a suitable word. This word should be formed from the word with the same number in the box on the right of the text. The first one has been done for you.

A.

The only way to 0.  fitness   is through exercise. Spending your life as a 'couch potato' is almost the 1.______ thing that you can do. I'm not saying that you need to become 2._____ about keeping yourself fit and spend long miserable hours 3.______ jogging for miles in the rain every day. But it is essential that you do a minimum of 4.______ exercise . Have a 5._______ with your doctor, and then exercise 6.________according to his 7.________.

0. fit 1. health 2. fanatic 3. happy 4. day 5. discuss 6. system 7. instruct

B.

8._______ you know someone who is 9._______ of spiders. The problem is so common that 10.______ even have a word for it - arachnophobia. No one is sure what it is that inspires this 11.______ terror. Some people believe it is the legs, the numerous eyes, or even their scuttling form of movement. Perhaps it is a 12._______ of all these things. Many people spray spiders with 13.______ as soon as they see them, despite the fact that spiders are useful in keeping down 14._______ of other insect pests in the house. Mind you, for some people anything is 15.________ to spiders!

8. Doubt 9. terror 10. psychology 11. rational 12. combine 13. insect 14. infest 15. prefer ANSWERS *

 *ANSWERS in comment # 1  

Perhaps a bit too easy?
For a bit harder PRACTICE > Click HERE  
A bit more? Click HERE!
:-)

Copyright and  SOURCE >: ©2006 Biscuit Software Ltd

MERRY XMAS!!!!

glitter-graphics.com

Merry Christmas to Everyone!!!

Dulce

Consumerism

The Lonely Man and the Myth of Ownership

Pretend you were the only person on earth. You were born from unknown origins and have always lived alone. Let’s say that you are also completely self-sufficient and can survive complete isolation..

Now tell me, what would you own?

You wouldn’t be able to answer that because the concept doesn’t make sense to you. Without other people to compare, trade, boast and compete with ownership is an illusion. There is no stuff that is yours and not yours, just the world.

This is why forsaking all goods doesn’t free you from the tight chains of consumerism. You are falling for the myth of ownership and fighting against it. But the person truly free of this grasp will realize you can’t fight something that doesn’t exist. Canceling the dualistic reasoning of mine and not mine, is the first step...


ACTIVITY:
________________________________________
I Shop Therefore...

(Answers in Comment 1) ;-)