ESL Magazine

The term Web 2.0 is hot even though the name has been around for a few years. It refers to the second generation of the world wide web. The first generation was static. It provided information that stayed put. The second generation is dynamic. Information moves and changes all of the time. Anything that is interactive is popular these days.

An Example of Web 2.0
EnglishClub.com is a good example of Web 2.0 at work. EnglishClub.com launched during the first generation of the Internet. It was one of the first sites to provide FREE online resources to English learners and teachers. Gradually a few dynamic components were added to EC, such as forums, chat, and blogs.

Today, EnglishClub.com offers numerous dynamic components in addition to (more…)

EnglishClub members ask many interesting questions about learning English. Last month we featured our first “burning question” of the month. A burning question is one that you really, really want an answer to. Thank you to all of the learners and teachers who left comments and shared ideas about overcoming nerves when speaking to native speakers.

Question for November: I don’t have much time, but I NEED to learn English. How can I learn English quickly? (more…)

McDonald’s recently pulled out of Iceland, shutting down all three of its franchises in Reykjavik. Iceland has been hit hard by the global recession. It wasn’t cost effective for McDonald’s to remain in business there. A few days ago, thousands of Icelanders lined up for one last McDonald’s meal. Many said they were sorry to see the fast-food restaurant go.

It is easy to get used to the convenience and taste of McDonald’s food. In North America, many families are accustomed to eating out at McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants on a regular basis. There is at least one McDonald’s in most major towns and cities. Some of the larger regions and cities have several to choose from. (more…)

Everyone gets hiccups from time to time. Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. They are annoying because they are out of your control. Just when you think a bout of hiccups is gone, another one comes.

No one knows the exact cause of hiccups. These contractions often occur after people eat or drink too quickly. Perhaps the most annoying hiccup fit is the one the baby has in the womb. These hiccups prepare the mother-to-be for waking regularly in the night!

You probably know these common home remedies for hiccups:

(more…)

Halloween is a fun season for English learners. Many students experience their first Halloween while studying English abroad. Besides dressing up in costumes, carving a pumpkin is one of the most popular activities during the Halloween season.

October 31st is on a Saturday this year. Whether you are abroad or at home, why not spend your Saturday carving a pumpkin? Find a friend and learn some English words as you carve your 1st pumpkin. You will have so much fun you will want to do it every year!

How to Carve a Pumpkin in 10 Easy Steps

1. Select a pumpkin from your local grocer or farm. Choose one that sits up straight. It’s easier to work with a pumpkin that has a bit of a stem.
2. Wipe your pumpkin with a wet cloth and place it on a table (cover the table in newsprint or a washable table cloth).

(more…)

Millions of television viewers watched in horror as a hand-made helium balloon supposedly carrying a 6-year-old boy fell from the skies in Colorado last week. The silver mushroom-shaped balloon had traveled 80 kilometres across two counties. Two helicopters and a number of TV camera crews were tracking it after the family called 911 to report the accident.

The family told authorities that the flying-saucer style balloon was a science experiment. The father claimed that one of his boys had climbed inside just as it was lifting off from the backyard. However, when the balloon was found there was nobody inside. (more…)

EnglishClub members ask many interesting questions about learning English. The EC team will feature one of your “burning questions” each month. A burning question is one that you really, really want an answer to. Please help us answer the question by adding your own suggestions in the comment section.

Question: I want to practise speaking with native speakers, but I’m nervous and I don’t know what to say. Do you have any advice for me?

Answer: Yes! I hear this question so often. My first question is, are you in a foreign country? If yes, this should be easy! Talk to people at bus stops, in grocery store line ups, in doctor’s offices, and in coffee shops. If no, try to visit places where foreigners frequently travel. Believe that you will find English speakers to chat with and you will.

Here are 10 tips: (more…)

Social bookmarking is a way to keep track of your favourite pages on the Internet. It is different than having a list of “favourites” on your computer’s browser because it is public. Your favourites are shared with your friends, family, and the world (if you choose). You don’t keep your favourite songs, books, or movies to yourself, do you? Favourites are meant to be shared. Social bookmarking is like being a good neighbour on the Internet. By bookmarking useful and interesting pages YOU help decide what is worth reading.

(more…)

The woman who supposedly inspired the controversial Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” has died. At age 4, John Lennon’s son, Julian, apparently came home with a picture he had drawn of his classmate, Lucy Vodden. When Julian showed the picture to his father he described it as “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.” (more…)

Do you want to practise your writing in a fun and friendly place? EnglishClub.com has a writing group that tackles fun challenges every month. To join the writing group you need to be a member of MyEC. If you are not a member yet, sign up here. (It’s free!) Within minutes of joining you will have your own web space, including a spot to upload and share your favourite photos, videos, and music. Your MyEC page also has a place for you to write your own blog. (more…)

Everybody loves “dumb criminal” stories. Catching them on camera is nothing new. Some criminals don’t even need to be caught in the act. They leave evidence as they stop to make themselves a sandwich or phone a friend. Some even leave personal items at the crime scene such as a wallet or set of keys.

Criminals often get themselves in trouble when they take their time in the homes they rob. This month a man from Pennsylvania allegedly broke into a home and stole some jewelry. Before making his escape he took a moment to check his Facebook status. (more…)

One question learners often ask is, “How do I train myself to think in English?” This is a tricky question. Your brain naturally thinks in your native language. When you learn a new word or phrase, your brain translates the expression into your dominant language. However, when you immerse yourself in English, this “translation” slowly fades. This is why so many English learners advance quickly when they travel to English speaking countries. They start to hear and see more English words than they do words in their own language. Eventually their brains stop “translating” into their own language and start thinking in English.

One way to think in English is to talk to yourself in English. This “talking” does not have to be out loud. You can do it silently. Start with the 5 senses. (more…)

According to a BBC report this month, an Australian scientist thinks that his country should give up the age old system of having 4 seasons. Tim Entwisle thinks Australia should have 5 or more seasons. He believes that seasons such as “sprummer” and “sprinter” would suit Australia’s climate. (more…)

I used to read romance novels when I was 13, but I only read them when I was babysitting. I babysat for a family that had stacks of them lying all around their house. I would start one after the kids went to sleep, and then spend the next couple of hours furiously reading it in a desperate attempt to finish it before the parents got home. When I heard them at the door I would throw the book back where (more…)

A is for Ask: Ask a search engine anything, such as What is an aardvark?
B is for Blog: Practise your English writing skills by creating your own blog
C is for Chat: Make new friends on MyEC
D is for Dictionaries: With audio, pictures, or even videos
E is for EnglishClub.com: Join FREE today
F is for Facebook. Are you a Fan of EnglishClub.com yet?
G is for Google: It’s officially a verb
H is for Help Desk: Alan’s here to help
I is for Iphone applications: Learn English on-the-go (more…)

When you are learning English (or any other language) one of the most important things to do is practice the language. For me practice means one thing, speaking. Yes, there are a lot of other things you have to do to learn English, but speaking English is how you get good at speaking English. (more…)

When you sit down to study English on your own what do you do? I don’t mean do you study vocabulary or grammar. I mean, what do you surround yourself with? How do you get in the learning English mood? Most importantly, how is your “studying English” time different than your “emailing friends” time or your “searching for work” time?

You can make English learning more enjoyable by establishing rituals. In her book, “Living a Beautiful Life,” Alexandra Stoddard describes rituals as “patterns you create in your everyday life that uplift the way you do ordinary things, so that a simple task rises to the level of something special…”

Rituals can include listening to music, arranging special objects, changing the setting, or doing activities in a certain order. By creating self-study rituals you can turn learning English into something special.

Examples of Rituals for English Learners (more…)

Did you know that chocolate can motivate you to learn English? Any kind of reward system helps, but chocolate is one of the best. When you think of chocolate your mouth begins to water. You can’t get chocolate off your mind. You’ll do anything to get your hands on some chocolate…even if it means studying English.

The classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is a book for all ages. Though written at a child’s level, any adult (especially choc-o-holics) will enjoy the tale. This is true of any Roald Dahl book, including the Twits, the Witches, and the BFG (all of which are equally as good, if not better, when you are an adult).

In the opening of the book you will meet Charlie Bucket. Charlie is a poor boy who lives in a tiny house with his mom, dad and both sets of grandparents. His father works in a toothpaste factory. Mr. Bucket supports the large family by screwing caps on tubes of toothpaste. As such, he can only afford to buy Charlie one chocolate bar per year from Willy Wonka’s factory. If you’re not motivated yet, read on…

Before you start reading this book, buy yourself one large chocolate bar (or one bag of chocolate chips). (more…)

When something is “a piece of cake” it is very easy to do. Another way of saying easy in English is “easy as pie”.

Thinking of these idioms reminds me of the world’s easiest icing. Caramel icing. You can use it on birthday cakes or drizzle it over ice cream.

Easy Caramel Icing

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons of margarine
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons of milk
• 1/2 cup of icing sugar

(more…)

Did you know it takes 21 days to form a good habit? Research shows that when you “stick to something” for three weeks in a row you are more likely to achieve your goals. This is important for language learners or anyone who wants to make a change.

People who try something new often “fall off the wagon”. Whether it’s a fitness program or a plan to stop complaining, life often gets in the way. Those who vow to learn English are more likely to succeed long term if they stay committed to a short term goal. (more…)