Active Vocabulary

Blog Posts


English Vocabulary

Building vocabulary

My students very often ask, "What's the best way to learn vocabulary?" Sometimes the question is more specific: "I work hard to learn new vocabulary, but the new words don't stay in my memory. What can I do?"


English Vocabulary

Improving your active vocabulary on your own

Writing is a valuable way of practising the productive skills. When you write something, you have words on a page, so it's easier to analyse any problems that you might have. You can write free-form texts about anything you like, but you really need to be able to get feedback on your writing to get the maximum value from it.


Listening

Listening Practice: BBC videos from YouTube: Number 3

It's not exactly brain surgery!

What happens when a brain surgeon meets a rocket scientist?


English Language

Speaking of English: Number 1

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

We're approaching the time when we start to hear those songs again – on the radio and even in the supermarket! Yes, it will soon be Christmas – or should that be "Xmas"?


Colloquial English

From the horse's mouth: Number 2

Let's make a start!

In this week's dialogue, it's Monday at the office and team leader Julie is chairing the weekly progress meeting. But it's difficult to get the meeting started!


Listening

Listening Practice: BBC videos from YouTube: Number 2

The man who rides a floating bike

A London man who has a very individual way to help to clean up the environment.


Colloquial English

From the horse's mouth: Number 1

Talking about talking

In these occasional blog posts, I’ll be talking about colloquial language, idioms, cultural references (such as TV) and other ‘bits and bobs’ that make up the English that you’ll hear in the streets, in the shops, in cafes, pubs and restaurants, in schools and universities, and in other social contexts.


Listening

Listening Practice: BBC videos from YouTube: Number 1

Seagull sandwich thief

Videos from the BBC’s YouTube channel are a really good resource for learners and improvers of English. I often use them in my classes. Here is one example. I’ve produced a transcript, which you can find in my blog, here.