English Collaborative Community

Empathy The ability to identify with or undertand another's situation or feeling is a powerful skill which requires effort, cultural knowledge and understanding.    MissLunaRose12 , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Understanding feelings Identifying feelings involves putting in someone's shoes. In order to do so, you have to deeply understand the situation a person is going through by identifying the context, the circumstances and the way a person might react. Feeling Scenarios We may have a whole picture of the situation and of the circumstances that create a context or scenario by putting our knowledge to the test. Let's do it right now! 💻📱 👤 ONLINE TASK 1  Take a look at the feeling scenarios and interact with the cards.   Can you identify the different feelings in the different scenarios?  💻📱 👤 ONLINE TASK 2 1. Open this Google Docs file and complete it with your answers. 2. Edit the document by clicking on  this link Or you can u...

Intermediate English Language Skills  B1 Level of English can be considered intermediate according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Learners who achieve B1 Intermediate level can: understand the main points of clear texts on familiar topics in standard language manage most situations on a trip to places where English is used produce simple, organised texts about familiar topics describe experiences, events, wishes and aspirations, and explain opinions and plans. B1 Level – Intermediate At the B1 ‘intermediate’ level, learners can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters. They can deal with most situations while traveling in an area where the language is spoken and can produce simple connected text on topics familiar or of personal interest. Materials on Intermediate English Language Skills on Padlet In order to achieve a B1 Intermediate level of English, students can make use of a selection of materials to practice yo...

Understanding The English Understanding native speakers can be challenging. Unlike ESL teachers or professors, an everyday person in England may not adapt their language to the level of English a non-native speaker of English has. This raises the question: How can you understand English people when talking better? As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect", which  means you have to listen to English speakers in audio files on a regular basis. First of all, listen to the audio file for a general understanding. Secondly, listen to the audio file again and take notes on the key information. Finally, listen to the audio file again for a better understanding. Now listen to some English speakers introducing themselves. Take notes on the main personal information you understand while listening. 1. Listen to Alice Arnold. 2. Listen to Alice Howarth. 3. Listen to Tom Robinson. Who did you understand better? Why?

Effective Communication Understanding the elements of communication is essential in order to communicate more effectively in English. As a matter of fact, communication includes 5 basic elements: the sender, the receiver, the message, the medium and feedback. Moreover, effective communication involves developing our communicative competence. What exactly is communicative competence? In "Theoretical Bases of Communicative Approaches to Second Language Teaching and Testing" (Applied Linguistics, 1980), Michael Canale and Merrill Swain identified these four components of communicative competence : Grammatical competence includes knowledge of phonology, orthography, vocabulary, word formation and sentence formation. Sociolinguistic competence includes knowledge of sociocultural rules of use.  Discourse competence is related to the learners' mastery of understanding and producing texts (cohesion and coherence) Strategic competence refers to compensatory strategies (repetition,...

 Cultural knowledge Knowing a language involves knowing about its culture. In other words, language knowledge is intrinsically linked to cultural knowledge. But what is cultural knowledge? Cultural knowledge is the information known by you because of your everyday life, observing surroundings, family traditions, sightseeing and ethics in your community. It involves behaviours, values, and attitudes towards others and immediate reactions to other communities. It includes the knowledge of the world, customs and traditions. Cultural knowledge is the basis for cultural awareness (intercultural understanding) and to cultural competence (developing specific skills and behaviors for effective intercultural interaction).  Indeed, cultural knowledge involves the knowledge of the language and how language can be used in a figurative way e.g. idioms and slang. Which are the idioms and slang in the New York City area? Here are some examples connected with New York City: The Big Apple : it...

 How do you feel when learning English? Learning a language can involve a wide range of feelings. Some students might feel motivated whereas others might feel bored. When doing a learning task, some learners may feel satisfied and glad while others may feel disatisfied and angry. In fact, the way we feel has an effect on our learning process. Therefore, we should try to identify feelings and use our emotional intelligence on a regular basis. How can we monitor the way we feel? You can keep a diary and take notes on the way you feel while doing homework or some learning tasks. Are these feelings negative or positive?  You can make a list of the feelings you are experiencing and you can categorize them into two different columns: positive feelings and negative feelings. Being aware of your feelings will be the first step. Then, you can reflect on the reasons why you feel that way and write about it.  Watch this YouTube video and identify the way you are feeling right now. ...

BUILDING OUR ENGLISH LEARNING COMMUNITY When building an English learning community you may wonder about its objective and how you could contribute to it. We are going to work it out by answering two key questions. This engaging and insightful collaborative blog helps you understand English from the perspective of native speakers. Learn how to attune your ears and practice your skills to grasp the nuances of everyday English. Dive into the realms of effective communication and discover how linguistic and socio-cultural knowledge shapes our understanding. Explore the intricacies of English idioms, slangs, and cultural behaviors to master English. Identify your learning emotions and contribute to the blossoming learning community. What's the objective of this blog? This blog has been created in order to share our viewpoints on education and English learning. This way, we can create a powerful English learning community. How can you contribute to our community? By asking and answering...