LEARNING ENGLISH

Jane Austen na Biblioteca Pública

2011-06-19T17:41:00.001-03:00

Tenho o prazer de convidar a todos os leitores e amigos para o Projeto Aula na Biblioteca, da Biblioteca Pública de Minas Gerais. Será no dia 21 de junho às 15:00, com direito a certificado de participação. Além disso, os interessados poderão visitar a exposição sobre a obra de Jane Austen no Setor de Coleções Especiais. Maiores informações e inscrições gratuitas para o evento:

Biblioteca Pública Luiz de Bessa

Coleções Especiais

Praça da Liberdade, 21 - 2o andar

Telefone: (31) 3269 1209

E-mail: mineiriana.sub@cultura.mg.gov.br

Fiquei muito feliz por esta parceria, a biblioteca foi meu refúgio durante os 3 anos que cursei o Ensino Médio no Colégio Estadual Central de Minas Gerais. Veja abaixo algumas fotos da Biblioteca Pública:

Fotos de: Dináh Marques Pereira de Araújo

Setor de Coleções Especiais

Setor anexo (atual setor de empréstimos):

I will miss you all!

2007-12-20T21:36:00.003-02:00

Dear students, this semester was a great opportunity to meet you all! Thanks for these moments really important for me!

If you want your photo, please visit this albun to pic your picture there!

If you photo is not here for any reason, please send it to me!

Adriana

My students compositions

2007-11-26T20:09:00.000-02:00

The compostions about movies are available in this blog at: http://englishbasic4.blogspot.com/2007/11/compositions-about-movies.html

Soon we will have more compositions about Fairy Tales and Live without machines!!

Theme for the last composition: Living without ...

2007-11-22T14:27:00.000-02:00

Can you think your life without tv, computer or other thing that you consider important?
You must write an article for a student magazine about the advantages and disadvantages of living without: Tv, computer or other object.

Think about:
1) What are the three advantages of life without this object?
2) What are the two disadvantages?
3) Are you for or against having this object?

Useful language:

- Listing advantages: First, / Firstly, ... Secondly, ... Thirdly...

- Listing disadvantages: On the other hand, there also (some) disadvantages, for instance,... For example... Also...

- Conclusion: In conclusion, / To sum up, I think ...

Example:

* Paragraph 1 - Begin the article with an introduction such as this: "Almost everybody has a mobile phone. But is it a great invention? I think there are both advantages and disadvantages.

* Paragraph 2 - Write two or three advantages.

* Paragraph 3 - Write two or three disadvantages.

* Paragraph 4 - Conclusion - decide if you think this object is a great invention or not.

Check:

the article for mistakes (grammar, puntuation and spelling).

Compositions about movies

2007-11-12T12:47:00.001-02:00

Hi dear all!

Do you want to read films reviews? Do you want do know what our students say about a specific movie?

This topic is to show you our compositions about movies.
Please click in the links below to read our production. To see the compositions, click in the mode: full screen.

Luisa Francisca - No one Less

Marilene Leroy - La vita è Bella

Vanessa Almeida - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Theme for the Third Composition

2007-11-07T17:12:00.000-02:00

Do you know famous children's story or fairy tales? Can you remember these stories?
The theme for our next composition is to write about fairy tales or children's story. But, you cannot tell the story! you MUST re-write the story using different adjectives, characteres and scenes. For example, if you decide to write about a new version of Cinderela, you can change the story, Cinderela could be a bad girl, no prince in the story, and so on...

These words are often used in fairy stories to describe good and bad characters:

cruel - wicked - beautiful - ugly - kind - gentle - bad-tempered - mean - stupid - good-natured - handsome - nasty - charming - good-looking - ridiculous - shy ...

Please don't forge that your text must be written in this way:

1) Introduction (1st paragraph)

2) Development
(2nd and 3rd paragraphs)

3) Conclusion (4th paragraphs)

For ideas to write about, please visit these sites:
Fables
Grimm Fairy Tales

A Film Review (Theme for the second composition - Writing activity)

2007-11-06T13:56:00.000-02:00

Hi Folks,

This week is the last time you have to write about A FILM REVIEW!!
Students from Basic 3, you will have until thursday to write it.
Students from Basic 4, you will have unitl saturday to write it.
So, don't forget it!

Here are some tips to help you write a film review:

WRITE a film review about a film you wuld recommend people to see it on DVD.

PLAN what you're going to write in the four paragraphs. Suggestions:
1) Paragraph 01 - write about the name of the film, the director, the stars and any prizes it won.
2) Paragraph 02 - The plot.
3) Paragraph 03 - where and when it was set.
4) Paragraph 04 - Why you recommend this film.

Useful Language:

I was directed / written by...
It is set in...
It is based on the book...
It's about...
It stars...
My favourite scene is...

Vocabulary:

audience - cast - director - extra - plot - scene - script - sequel - soundtrack - special effects - star - subtitles ...

Kinds of films:

action movie - comedy - horror - musical - science fiction - thriller - western - romance ...

Please, send me by e-mail your corrected compositions in order to be published here!
Adriana

Do you like poems?

2007-10-23T11:29:00.000-02:00

Our friend Akram writes poems in English in his blog, take a look:

My Sweet Angel

I believe that angel Are in heaven above
Sparkling like shooting stars From their inner love.

I believe in a fairy tails Without even a clue,
From the very first moment I laid my eyes over you.

passing every night by your door
inspiring the charm of your perfume
willing if I can be able to soar
following your magical winsome

letting my fingers dallying your hair
feeling that tender hiding there
plenty of stars are laying beneath
waiting for your night to blare.

I can see them all standing there
The moon , the stars , the clouds & the sea
A truly moment of natural love affair
Gathering around surrounding me

.... (to read more, click here)

An Interview With Our Special Guest!

2007-10-17T12:46:00.001-02:00

This is my friend! He will be our special guest during this week!
I won't tell you what's his name, where's he from...

You must ask questions to our guest, okay?

He's logged too, so it will be easy for him to answer you!

Improve your english reading short stories

2007-09-30T15:12:00.000-03:00

According to Claudia Ceraso, "the best way to get inspiration to write is to read stories. What kind of stories do you like? Children's, crime, fiction, horror, humour, non-fiction, romance, sci-fi? Here is a great site with all these genres -some of the stories are just two pages long!"

FOR LOTS OF SHORT STORIES
VISIT http://www.short-stories.co.uk/

English Tenses – Graphic Comparison

2007-09-26T18:27:00.000-03:00

Problems with the English tenses? Have a look at the time line, it might help you understand when to use which tense. As there is a similarity between past, present and future tenses, there are just a few rules to keep in mind.

If you know how to use the present progressive correctly to express present actions, you will as well be able to use the past progressive correctly to express past actions.

(You can click in the pictures below to see in a large size)

From: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/tenses-graphic

To practice with some grammar tests, please visit: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests

BASIC 3 - ATTENTION!

2007-09-24T17:15:00.000-03:00

Attention Basic 3 students!!

Next tuesday, october 02 we are going to have:
Written Test

Units 1 - 5, grammar topics:

- simple present X present continuous
- adjectives: comparatives and superlatives
- adverbs of manner
- stative verbs
- quantity expressions
- giving advice: could, should, ought to, had better
- polite requests: could, would, can, will ...

Our oral test will be on october, 04.

BASIC 4 - ATTENTION!

2007-09-24T16:44:00.000-03:00

Attention Basic 4 students!!

Next class, september 29 we are going to have:
Oral Test and Written Test

Units 1 to 6, grammar topics:
- simple and continuous tenses (present, past)
- tag question
- present progressive x simple present
- who x that
- gerunds and infinitives
- times clauses (future)
- first and second conditionals: if and unless

Our Second Survey

2007-09-23T14:49:00.000-03:00

So, people would like to visit different countries, but England, Italy, Portugal and Egypt are on the top of the list!

Example of a Personal Narrative

2007-09-23T14:42:00.001-03:00

Hi! Here is an example of Personal Narrative,
from www.writinga-z.com - To see this text in detail, please click in the picture below.

Title: The Fourth of July

How To Write: Personal Narrative

2007-09-20T16:20:00.001-03:00

Take a look in these tips below:

Click on the right bottom to open it at Slideshare site and see in full screen.

It's time to Peer Editing

2007-09-18T15:50:00.000-03:00

Do you know what Peer Editing is?

Take a look in the slide below, from http://readwritethink.org/

Let's talk about movies

2007-09-17T22:01:00.000-03:00

One of interisting topic to talk is movie. I'm a fanatic of this topic.
My favorite movie is The fabulous destiny of Amelie Poulain, it's a French film. It's a real and simple storie. It's amazing.
I usually watch Europeans films: Spanish, England, Italian and French films, but sometimes I watch American too.
One of my favorite directors is Almodovar and Wood Allen.
When I have time I watch 1 movie per day, but sometimes I only watch 1 or 2 movies per week.
If you want a company to go to the cinema, call me.

Tell us wat is your favorite and style of movie.

Exciting Destinations

2007-09-14T23:15:00.000-03:00

Hi guys!
What are some places you've visited? What did you do on those trips?Let's make an intinerary in order to help our friends to decide which place to go?You can search on internet or in a tour book. Collect information on any of these topics:

- hotels - sights to see- shopping- restaurants- cultural events and festivals - customs

Try to use strong suggestions, for example:

If you go to San Francisco,
be sure not to miss the Golden Gate Bridge.
you must see the Golden Gate Bridge.
a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge is a must.
It's essential that you see the Golden Gate Bridge.

You can use some modifiers too, for example:
affordable - appetizing - exciting - exotic - breathtaking - busy

Take a look in my example in the comments.

Adriana Zardini

Our first survey

2007-09-14T23:14:00.000-03:00

Our first survey was really balanced!!

Let's talk about food and restaurants

2007-09-05T11:50:00.000-03:00

Hi everybody!! Let's write a restaurant review!

You can use these tips to help you:

- restaurante name

- food

- price

- service

Some options to describe:

- Prices: inexspensive (cheap has negative connotations), moderate, expensive

- Location: downtonw, neighborhood, suburban, country

- Service: frinedly, warm, courteous, efficient, quick, slow

- Food: termos for nationalites (italian, brazilian, etc.), healthy, vegetarian, traditional, homestyle

Here is an example:

Amazon Sun is the best restaurant in town. They serve the most delicious Brazilian dishes. The waiters are polite and friendly. I ordered the Feijoada. It was fantastic...

Let's talk about music!

2007-08-31T23:44:00.000-03:00

Hi guys! Please, write a paragraph about a musician or band you like. You can use some ideas such as: style of music, life and career, current activities. And if it's possible post a link for more information about the singer/band or even a link to youtube.
See you,

Adriana

My favorite picture

2007-08-28T22:37:00.000-03:00

Another day Adriana said for us to do some activity like that: post and discribe our favorite picture.
It's one of my favorite picture. Caillebotte painted this in 1875. The pictures's name is "Cepilladores de pisos".
I like this picture because it's similar a photo but in fact it's a paiting.
The details, the light and the sensibilite of the artist had called my attention.
This painting is in Dorsay Museum.

10 Common Mistakes in English

2007-08-28T14:02:00.000-03:00

10 Common Mistakes in English - http://esl.about.com/b/a/256787.htm

Here are 10 of the most common mistakes in English with explanations and examples.
It's vs. Its
Two, Too, To
They're, Their, There
You're vs. Your
Confusing Words
Since vs. For
Have vs. Of in Conditionals
Has gone to vs. Has been to
Then vs. Than
Double Negatives

Site to learn english

2007-08-26T15:10:00.000-03:00

In this site you can search for grammar, reading, writing (tips), vocabulary, listening and speaking strategies. http://esl.about.com/

There is an option to sign up for Free E-Mail English Courses for Learners

I hope you enjoy it! I use this site for many years!!

Adriana

Site para downloads

2007-08-26T14:57:00.000-03:00

Hi people! Here is a link for a wonderful site with lots of books and cds http://www.englishtips.org/

You need to login. Although the site is in russian, you can click in the british flag to translate. Some users' comments are in russian.I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to use the password: englishtips.org to open the zip or rar files.

Hugs, Adriana Zardini

Continue the history...

2007-08-18T17:33:00.000-03:00

Clara was a girl that live with her mother in a small house in a suburbs of a big city. She studied in a poor school...she was a very bad student. She didn't have money to buy the books than she couldn't study so much. (Now someone has to continue this history... )

Idéia

2007-08-18T17:27:00.000-03:00

Ana Júlia said...

Class I had a idea...and I think it'll be very good. We will create a history...I'll write a paragraph and someone will have continous...one person will be continous what someone wrote fisrt. ok! We will probably write more and practic our english ok! And if it stay good we will publish a book...rsrsrsrs..I'll invent something and someone will continous this history..ok!

Welcome on board!!

2007-08-15T15:39:00.000-03:00

Hi guys!! This is our space to share ideas, to keep in contact and learn english!!!

See you,

Adriana Zardini