FCE Practice Test: http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/tsindex.htm
Cambridge English test: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/testyourenglish/index.php
Politically Correct Language Agosto 29, 2009
PREFERRED LANGUAGE
As society develops, preferred language evolves with it. The following suggestions are currently appropriate. They may not have been acceptable in the past, nor may they remain the preferred usage in the future.
Disability
When talking about people with disabilities, mention the disability only if it is relevant. If uncertain what term to use, ask the individual his or her preference. Avoid the use of emotional descriptives, such as “afflicted,” “stricken” and “confined”. The rule of thumb is: put the person before the disability. Use “persons with disabilities”, “people with disabilities” etc., rather than “the disabled” or “the handicapped”.
NOTE: “handicap” is the correct term when referring to the Human Rights Code. The code prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap.
Ethnicity, Race, Religion
Reference to a person’s race, religion or ethnicity should be avoided unless it is of particular relevance to the context.
Avoid equating bad, depressing or negative things with blackness. For example, avoid such terms as:
* a black mood
blackball
blackmail
black magic
black market
black sheep
a dark/black day
a black heart
black listed
the pot calling the kettle black
Avoid stereotypes, generalizations or assumptions about ethnic or racial groups.
Respect labels preferred by specific racial or ethnic groups and only use if necessary. For example:
* Black peoples
people of African descent
Africans
First Nation peoples
Aboriginal peoples
South Asian
East Asian
South East Asian
Middle Eastern
North African
Avoid using phrases such as “on the warpath”, “Indian giver” etc.
Avoid using words like “gestapo”, “concentration camp” and “Hitler” casually. Try to use these words only in reference to the Second World War.
Gender
Avoid male or female pronouns when referring to groups composed of both men and women or of unspecified gender. Also try to avoid the use of word combinations such as him and her, his/her, and s/he. Use of the plural form of the noun with the relevant pronoun is often the simplest way to avoid sexist language. There are many alternatives to gender-biased language.
See also Talking Gender by Ruth King et al., and Handbook of Nonsexist Writing by Casey Miller and Kate Swift.
* Chris Ratchford is the Chair (not Chairman) of the board of governors.
* Professor Latimer worked in the fishing industry (not was a fisherman) before deciding on an academic career.
When referring to two groups of opposite sexes, use parallel language.
* men and women
* ladies and gentlemen (but not men and ladies)
* husband and wife (not man and wife)
* men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams (not men’s and girls’)
Unless the role of wife, mother, sister or daughter is important to the context, avoid identifying women in these terms. Marital status should also not be noted, unless pertinent.
Physical descriptions should not be included unless they are relevant to the story. Neither men nor women should be stereotyped. For instance, avoid describing women only in terms of physical attributes if men are described by mental attributes or career status.
Don’t write:
* James Carrera is a respected geologist, and his wife Anna is a striking blonde.
Rather, write:
* Both the Carreras are highly respected in their fields. Anna is a well-known musician and James is a respected geologist.
Avoid stereotyping careers or jobs.
Don’t write:
* Housewives are paying more.
Write:
* Shoppers are paying more.
Depict men and women equally in terms of physical prowess or mental ability. Don’t automatically ascribe particular emotions or feelings to women and actions to men, or vice versa; men can be sensitive and women physically active. Depict men and women equally in the workplace.
Commonly used words to avoid Suggested alternatives
blackball ostracize, disapprove, reject
blacklist condemn, ostracize, boycott
blackmail extort, threaten, demand
black sheep reprobate, backslider
black market underground economy, deals on the side
businessman business person
chairman Chair, co-ordinator, convenor
cleaning woman cleaner
clergyman clergy, deacon, minister, pastor, priest, rabbi
coloured people Black peoples, people of African descent,
African people, South Asian peoples
common man average person, members of the public
craftsman artisan, craftsperson
crippled person(s) or people with a disability
the disabled persons or people with disabilities
East Indian South Asian
fair sex women
fireman firefighter
forefathers ancestors
gentleman/gentlemen man/men
girl/girls (referring to adult females) woman/women
the handicapped persons or people with disabilities
housewife homemaker
lady/ladies (referring to adult females) woman/women
layman layperson, average person
low man/woman on the totem pole lowest rung of the ladder
man in the street public person in the street, public, member of the public
man the phones staff the phones, handle the phones
man hours working hours
manpower personnel, staff, staffing requirements, workers, workforce
mankind civilization, humanity, people
man-made synthetic, artificial
master/mistress of ceremonies host, emcee
middleman wholesaler, go-between
newsman journalist, reporter
non-whites people of colour
orientals Asian peoples, East Asian peoples, Southeast Asian peoples
physically challenged physically disabled
policeman officer, police officer
postman postal worker, mail carrier
primitive societies non-industrial societies
right-hand man assistant
salesman clerk, sales rep
spokesman spokesperson, representative, speaker, official
stewardess flight attendant
tribes ethnic groups
West Indian Caribbean
wives and children families/family
workman worker
Source: http://www.yorku.ca/ycom/style/sg35.html
Expressions with ‘hand’ Julio 14, 2009
I can handle that ~ Soy capaz de que
It might come in handy ~ Podría ser útil
It’s kind of handsome ~ Es tipo de guapo
Do you need a hand? ~ ¿Necesitas ayudar?
A big hand for … ~ Una gran aplauso …
Yappr – Ingles Gratis Julio 8, 2009
Muchos estudiantes prefieren ver videos interesantes y divertidos para la lectura de libros, porque los vídeos tienen sonido e imágenes. La ventaja de este sitio es que con los subtítulos, los vídeos pueden ser comprensibles para los principiantes o intermedios estudiantes. Youtube videos son buenos para estudiantes avanzados para los principiantes, pero no de los intermedios, ya que a veces no tienen subtítulos. Los usuarios también pueden subir sus vídeos e incluso contribuir con sus traducciones a sus propios vídeos o para los demás. Además, también hay juegos y un chat para hablar con gente de todo el mundo y la práctica Inglés. ¿Qué estás esperando para unirse a él y compartir con sus alumnos y amigos? Hay disponible en catorce idiomas Yappr, por lo tanto no tiene excusas para no aprender idiomas.
Word of the Month ~ evince Julio 8, 2009
evince |iˈvins| verb [ trans. ] formal reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling) : his letters evince the excitement he felt at undertaking this journey. • be evidence of; indicate : man’s inhumanity to man as evinced in the use of torture. ORIGIN late 16th cent.(in the sense [prove by argument or evidence] ): from Latin evincere ‘overcome, defeat’ (see evict ).
Thesaurus evince verb formal his letters evince the excitement he felt reveal, show, make plain, manifest, indicate, display, exhibit, demonstrate, evidence, attest to; convey, communicate, proclaim, bespeak; informal ooze. antonym conceal.
Phrasal Verbs: Ask Out Julio 4, 2009
Una serie con Kathleen Hershener que explora el mundo de los “phrasal verbs” en ingles. Especificamente, los que puede usar para relationes humanas.
Has clic aqui.
Active vs Passive Verbs Junio 30, 2009
A verb is active when its subject performs the action.
We will publish a catalogue illustrating various land races.
A verb is passive when its subject suffers the action.
A catalogue illustrating various land races will be published.
Passive verbs are always constructed from a finite part of the verb to be and a past participle (ending in -ed, -en, -t or irregularly). They are extremely common. Here are just a few.
How does language shape the way we think? Junio 30, 2009
HOW DOES OUR LANGUAGE SHAPE THE WAY WE THINK? [6.12.09]
By Lera Boroditsky
LERA BORODITSKY is an assistant professor of psychology, neuroscience, and symbolic systems at Stanford University, who looks at how the languages we speak shape the way we think. READ MORE…
Inglés Conversación gratis vídeos. Junio 27, 2009
¿Te gustaría proponer algunos vídeos Inglés conversación que le ayude a desarrollar sus habilidades de conversación Inglés. Aviso digo Inglés conversaciones reales, al igual que un hablante nativo que hable con usted.
Así que no necesita buscar más, porque aquí es un gran recurso Inglés conversación perfectamente embalados y entregados gratuitamente a través de su ordenador.
El Real Inglés sitio web está lleno de vídeos por lo que estoy seguro de que pueden encontrar lo que busca.
Espero que estos recursos que le ayudan a desarrollar habilidades de conversación Inglés a un nivel donde se siente cómodo hablando con un hablante nativo.
Still, Yet, Already (ya, todavía) Junio 27, 2009
Basic / Básicos ::
ALREADY – something is finished, or completed before expected / YA – algo está terminado, o que se hayan terminado antes de espera
STILL – something is in progress / TODAVÍA – algo está en marcha
YET – something is not started / AUN – algo que no se ha iniciado
Grammar tip
already COLOCACIÓN de ALREADY – STILL – NO LONGER – NO MORE:
• DETRÁS de be si va solo, y de cualquier auxiliar: don’t, doesn’t , didn’t , will (not), would (not), have (not), has (not), can(not), could (not), must (not), may (not), might (not)
• DELANTE de cualquier verbo.
aready COLOCACIÓN de YET – ANY MORE / ANYMORE – ANY LONGER:
• al FINAL de la oración.
YA
• En oraciones afirmativas:
ALREADY
• En oraciones interrogativas:
ALREADY si espramos una respuesta afirmativa.
YET en preguntas cuya respuesta desconocemos.
• En oraciones negativas:
ANY LONGER »
ANY MORE (inglés británico) » con el verbo en forma negativa
ANYMORE (inglés norteamericano) »
NO LONGER / NO MORE » con el verbo en forma afirmativa
Grammar tip
NO MORE – NO LONGER se usan sobre todo en respuestas cortas:
— Does Bill still sing in that band?
— No longer. / No more.
(¿Todavía canta Bill en ese grupo? — Ya no.)
Aunque una respuesta muy corriente también es:
— Not any longer. / Not anymore. / Not any more.
He is already at home.
(Ya está en casa.)
She already has that car.
She has already got that car.
(Ella ya tiene ese coche.)
Bob is already working.
(Bob ya está trabajando.)
Jim already plays football for that team.
(Jim ya juega al fútbol en ese equipo.)
They will already have to paint the kitchen.
(Ellos ya tendrán que pintar la cocina.)
Your brother has already found it.
(Tu hermano ya lo ha encontrado.)
Página arriba
Is he at home yet?
(no lo sabemos y pedimos información)
Is he already at home?
(sabemos que sí y esperamos confirmación)
(¿Ya está en casa?)
Does she have that car yet?
Has she got that car yet?
Does she already have that car?
Has she already got that car?
(¿Ella ya tiene ese coche?)
Is Bob working yet?
Is Bob already working?
(¿Bob ya está trabajando?)
Does Jim play football for that team yet?
Does Jim already play football for that team?
(¿ Jim ya juega al fútbol en ese equipo?)
Will they have to paint the kitchen yet?
Will they already have to paint the kitchen?
(¿Ellos ya tendrán que pintar la cocina?)
Has your brother found it yet?
Has your brother already found it?
(¿Tu hermano ya lo ha encontrado?)
Página arriba
He isn’t at home any longer / any more / anymore.
He is no longer / no more at home.
(Ya no está en casa.)
She doesn’t have that car any longer / any more / anymore.
She has no longer / no more that car.
She hasn’t got that car any longer / any more / anymore.
She has no longer / no more got that car.
(Ella ya tiene ese coche.)
Bob isn’t working any longer / any more / anymore.
Bob is no longer / no more working.
(Bob ya no está trabajando.)
Jim doesn’t play football for that team any longer / any more / anymore.
Jim no longer / no more plays football for that team.
(Jim ya no juega al fútbol en ese equipo.)
They will not / won’t have to paint the kitchen any longer / any more / anymore.
They will no longer / no more have to paint the kitchen
(Ellos ya no tendrán que pintar la cocina.)
Your brother hasn’t found it any longer / any more / anymore.
Your brother has no longer / no more found it.
(Tu hermano ya no lo ha encontrado.)
Página arriba
TODAVÍA
• En oraciones afirmativas:
STILL
• En oraciones interrogativas:
STILL
• En oraciones negativas:
YET
o STILL con valor enfático y se coloca detrás del sujeto .
He is still at home
(Todavía está en casa.)
She still has that car.
She has still got that car.
(Ella todavía tiene ese coche.)
Bob is still working.
(Bob todavía está trabajando.)
Jim still plays football for that team.
(Jim todavía juega al fútbol en ese equipo.)
They will still have to paint the kitchen.
(Ellos todavía tendrán que pintar la cocina.)
Is he still at home?
(¿Todavía está en casa?)
Página arriba
Has he still got that car?
Does she still have that car?
(¿Ella todavía tiene ese coche?)
Is Bob still working?
(¿Bob todavía está trabajando?)
Does Jim still play football for that team?
(¿Jim todavía juega al fútbol en ese equipo?)
Will they still have to paint the kitchen?
(¿Ellos todavía tendrán que pintar la cocina?)
Página arriba
He isn’t at home yet.
He still isn’t at home. (enfático)
(Todavía no está en casa.)
She hasn’t got her old car yet.
She doesn’t have her car yet.
She still hasn’t got her car.
She still doesn’t have her car.
(Ella todavía no tiene ese coche.)
Bob isn’t working yet.
He still isn’t working.
(Bob todavía no está trabajando.)
He doesn’t play for that team yet.
He still doesn’t play for that team.
(Jim todavía no juega al fútbol en ese equipo.)
They won’t have to paint the kitchen yet.
They still won’t have to paint the kitchen.
(Ellos todavía no tendrán que pintar la cocina.)
