Have you got any questions? Ask them at your exam!

Knowledge is not driven by answers but by questions. 

So, have you asked a good question today?

We continue discussing the tasks of the Speaking part of our English Exam. What's next? A student has to ask five direct questions about a piece of information.
This is what Kira thinks about the second task:

Foreign Languages Help Study Other Subjects

Foreign Languages teachers are experiencing boundless enthusiasm about using new versatile media for teaching a target language. Modern pedagogical technologies are abundant in various approaches that make learning a language not only more effective but also more meaningful. One of such methodologies is Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). While educators are discussing all manifold advantages of using a foreign language for teaching other subjects, can we be sure that our students find this idea alluring?
This question seemed riveting to Dilyara, though she tries to explain why she is wary of such innovations.

FUTURE OF SCHOOLS

How will schools change in five-ten years? Have you ever tried to predict the future of our education? Do you want your children and grandchildren to be taught the way you are instructed today?
 Maria got interested in these questions and decided to speculate on this topic.        We'd like to hear your ideas and opinions about the future of our schools.

SUMMER IS HERE

Summer is here. Or is it? Judging by our weather it is either late autumn or early spring. It has been snowing during the whole week. But for the calendar local people wouldn't be able to guess what season it is:)
Anyway, school is over. It is the busiest time for students of Classes 9 and 11 - time for exams.We wish them good luck and hope that they'll do their best, demonstrate their knowledge and get the best results.




How about the rest of the students? What are your plans for the summer holidays? Traveling, adventures, sightseeing, meeting new people, visiting friends and relatives.... Haven't you forgotten to include English studies in your list? Your Edmodo groups are going to work all summer. Attend them regularly and you'll be able to improve your language skills combining pleasure of entertainment and useful activities.

iAPPraise Grammar

There are plenty of apps to study, drill and test English grammar. My GRAMMAR LAB by Pearson Education is definitely a must. It has three levels: ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED, you can choose questions from various topics.

A Big Pronunciation Mystery

English pronunciation has a reputation of a weird and confusing puzzle.
Enjoy the poem and pay attention to spelling and pronunciation of some words (BTW, enrich your vocabulary:)

"The Chaos!" - A poem about English by Gerard N. Trenité - American English Pronunciation

How many words do you know?

Would you like to find out how many words you know? There is an easy way to do it!
Test your vocabulary here.
Compare your results with average statistics, which contains some really interesting information about other people's achievements. Have fun!

DIGITAL LEARNING DAY

Living in the 21st century we're getting used to technology
 integrated in almost all spheres of our lives. Digital learning
 has become part of educational process. How has it
changed learners' and educators'
 lives? Are these changes positive?

I'm taking a Coursera MOOC E-Learning and Digital Cultures offered
 by the University of Edinburgh. And one of my classmates
 Madhura Pradhan created a video where students from the future
 time travel into the 21st century classroom.

Watch the video and share your impressions and ideas that it
 sparkles.

Future students by Madhura Pradhan on GoAnimate

Animated Presentations - Powered by GoAnimate.

HOW TO LEARN ENGLISH

What helps people learn English? Have a look at this interesting infographic representing the results of the research. Do you find it useful? What is YOUR favorite way of learning the language? You can try to create your own infographic on this topic and share it with us.

Learn Languages with native speakers!

The global community is embracing the new communication technologies to learn languages. The world seems so small when people from different countries can easily find friends,  teach and support each other and share their cultures. I hope you'll enjoy this video:)

For future polyglots.

Here is a site I'd like to recommend for those of you who are considering learning some more foreign languages. When you have some free time, check it out to find essential information about learning strategies, useful resources, teaching yourself and much more.
 After visiting this HOW TO LEARN ANY LANGUAGE website, let me know what you think about it. Have you changed your mind or have you become more enthusiastic about it?

Combining celebration and learning can be useful!

European Day of Languages on PhotoPeach

What is Your NEXT Language to Study?

❝One language sets you in a corridor for life. 

Two languages open every door along the way.❞

‒Frank Smith

Have you started thinking about studying more foreign languages? Have you chosen one? What factors do you take into consideration when making your choice? Of course, all learners are different, they have individual preferences and specific reasons for studying this or that language.  Are some languages more difficult than other? What does it depend on? What are the hardest and the easiest languages? If you want to know more on this topic, have a look at the infographic HERE

European Day of Languages

Language skills are a necessity and a right for EVERYONE - that is one of the main messages of the European Day of Languages which is celebrated on September, 26.
What is more normal for the human condition - monolingualism or plurilingualism? Why could the value of English decline in a globalised world?
If you want to answer these questions and find much more useful information,
visit the official site of the European Day of Languages
Would you like to find out your
level of language skills? Take this self-evaluation!



Have you changed your mind concerning language learning after our dicussion of the post about English mania?
What other languages
and how many would you like to learn? And why?

WHY DO PEOPLE LEARN ENGLISH?

Watch this short video and try to answer Jay Walker's question: "Is English mania good or bad?" Why do people need a common language? Why has English become so popular? What is YOUR reason for learning English?

Ready to change the World... but don't know how to start?

Here is another kid who wants to be a part of the process transforming the world around us, making it a better place to live. Hope this speech can set an example for those who would like to make improvements in the life of their class, school or community.

Children and Grown-ups should learn from each other

We are so used to the model when kids learn from their parents and teachers. But can adults be taught by kids? Can teenagers show that they care and try to make a difference? Watch this inspirational video and share your impressions. I'm sure you can't be indifferent to these ideas.

KNOWLEDGE DAY

In Russia The National Day of Knowledge is celebrated on 1st of September to mark the end of summer holidays and the beginning of a new school year. It isn't simply the day when school starts. It's also one more opportunity to remind people about the importance of knowledge in our life.

The London 2012 Olympic Games went out with a bang!

Do you know what "go out with a bang" means?

 Now when the XXX Olympic Games in London are over,  you have more time for learning English. 

Visit BBC LearningEnglish and find a lot of useful vocabulary connected with sport and other topics. Do you agree that the London Olympic Games went out with a bang?

Practice these phrases and idioms leaving your comments about the impressions that the Olympic Games produced on you. 

And get ready to use them very soon when Sochi will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2014.

PLAGIARISM

What is the best way to prevent plagiarism? Why should it be avoided? I believe it's important to get familiar with the proper way of using any type of material from different resources. Watch the video giving useful tips about it.