Students studying academic reading, especially for standardised tests like TOEFL and IELTS frequently ask “How can I improve my academic reading?” The answer is, “Do more academic reading.” You need to look at real academic documents and analyse them for meaning. Try to insert your own subheadings and summarise the documents within 200-300 words. Underline … [Read more…]
I love running and maybe some of you do to. Here are some links to some websites about running in English. Competitor Is about running and covers training, nutrition and shoes and equipment. Running Times is the website of a popular running magazine. There are stories about running as well as tips.
In section VI or VII of the TOEIC test there is often a reading passage which is an advertisement or a piece of business communication to the public. One problem that students in non-English speaking countries have is not being able to find these resources easily. Today, Get Great English comes to the rescue with … [Read more…]
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 is a story of Adrian Mole, a young boy in England in the 1980s.
Paris Map by Stefano Creative Commons: Attribution How much do you really know about the place you live in? Have you ever visited the tourist information office? If you haven’t, you may be missing out on an amazing source of study material. Pick up every free leaflet, map and brochure in English. You already have … [Read more…]
Everyone knows that comics are great for your English because if you can’t understand words you have pictures to help you guess what they mean. Unfortunately, importing comic books can be quite expensive and reading comics on e-readers can be frustrating, too. However, webcomics are a great compromise and most are short enough to be … [Read more…]
Even if you don’t own an e-book reader (or ebook reader), you can still download free samples to your smartphone or your computer. Download the app and go shopping in the Kindle store or the Kobo store (search for your local store) and download free samples of books. You’ll need to sign up but if … [Read more…]
I’ve talked about having enough study time in a previous post. Sometimes it is easy to feel that you don’t have enough time to read. You have a family, a job, other studies, a social life, etc. All this stops you from having time to read. In this article, from the business blog Fast Company, … [Read more…]
A lot of students have difficulties using -ed and -ing adjectives. These can help you. -ed The Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited The Kinks – So Tired -ing Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood (“The way you love me it’s frightening”) Pet Shop Boys – Being Boring
This is a suburban town on the outskirts of Tokyo. It is a residential area; there are a lot of houses and apartments. There aren’t many businesses here, but there are some. This is the urban centre of Tokyo. There are a lot of skyscrapers and other large buildings, and the buildings are densely packed … [Read more…]