Facebook and new apps for English learners

Recently, I have read articles about decrease in daily Facebook users, specifically among teens. In other words, teenagers are still on Facebook; they're just not using it as much as they did.

To understand where teens like to spend their virtual time nowadays, just watch them on their smartphones. All the fun stuff is happening on their mobiles.

Facebook has become a social network that's often too complicated, too risky, and, above all, too overrun by parents to give teens the type of digital freedom. 

Their world revolves around Instagram and gradual exodus towards WhatsApp, WeChat, KakaoTalk, etc.
However, Facebook with more than 1 billon users worldwide is still a leader among social networking sites.
The question is how can you, as a student of English, use Facebook and all those apps to your own benefit and improve your language skills?

On Facebook there are lots of groups and you can join them. They can help you practice your English. They pose questions, mill games, videos, stories that you can read and play along with and they challenge you to use your English properly.

When you join these groups you are going to meet a lot of other people just like you. These people want to learn English and they are trying to it on Facebook.

If they wanna learn English and you wanna learn English you can do it together.

After you find friends you could have a chat with them or use your skype hangouts on Google.

You can also study grammar. There are hundreds  of grammar sides. Teachers have uploaded lots and lots of different charts, rules and exercises on to Facebook and you can join those pages. 
The pages are being updated  almost daily and you can see more and more rules, learn grammar and get better at English. After all the father of modern English literature William Shakespeare has his Facebook account - pages...
https://www.facebook.com/WilliamShakespeareAuthor/

A lot of people post videos on Facebook  to help you practice your listening in English. And if you do that it is like being with someone.You can hear them talking, listen to the proper  pronounciation, so it can certainly help too. 

The last thing you can do to help yourself learn English on Facebook is that you find a page that you are interested in or people that you are interested in. Read the conversations right there. They are really good at talking and they use a wide range of vocabulary. 
The more you read the better you will get. 

And let's not forget mobile apps. With these apps for learning English, it'll almost be like playing a game  no more boring vocabulary and grammar exercises!

So those are all different ways that you can try to improve your English using Facebook and different apps.

Share, learn and enjoy English...

Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/myenglishteachers
https://www.facebook.com/grammarly
https://www.facebook.com/GrammarUpdates
https://www.facebook.com/bbclearningenglish.multimedia

Apps:
http://openlanguage.com/library/learn-english/10/culture-show/478/top-5-ios-apps-for-learning-english

YouTubers and Vloggers

Most of us can’t live a day without watching YouTube music, funny or some educational videos. Can you imagine your life without watching YouTube at all? Probably not.

YouTube has become the most important media in people's lives. It is mainstream media that completely permeated global media culture.

YouTubers are already mainstream stars and celebrities. They are making lots of money from their self-built careers. What is it like to be a YouTuber or a vlogger? Why make YouTube videos?

As I know that a few students of mine are successful vloggers I asked them. YouTubers sit and perform for the camera. It is not so easy to become famous and successful as it seems. Vloggers are documenting their daily lives, giving advice on everything and sharing their thoughts on the world around them. Actually, they are vlogging their life online.

Shakespeare not just for the Graduation Exam

The date of the graduation exam for 4th graders is just around the corner and the upcoming weeks can be a stressful period for all students.

You may say…it’s high time you started cramming for the final exam. Does it really help? This hasn´t been conclusively proved, yet.

You start to panic, your mind usually goes blank and things can downhill very quickly. You obviously won't have time to cover everything.

Most of us are connected 24/7. Here is my study tip to help you get a grip on Shakespeare. The best way is to join a free online course:

Exploring English: Shakespeare, from Monday 18 April 2016 to Sunday 29 May 2016.

The British Council’s team of educators will guide you through the course and you will get the opportunity to share your ideas and opinions with people from all over the world.
Improve your English language skills, learn about Shakespeare’s life and plays, increase your confidence, and get ready for your final exam.

Here is the link:

https://www.britishcouncil.cz/en/events/exploring-english-shakespeare

In the end…my favourite quotation:

"Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven."

                                                                     William Shakespeare

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…

These days we are talking about film industry, awards and stuff in our classes. The Oscars, BAFTA, the Razzies, etc.

Each year millions of people tune in to see if their favourite actor, film and director had been nominated and picked up the top award. The gold statuette prize, called an Oscar, is the highest honour in the movie industry. It can turn an actor into a legend or a movie into a classic.

The Golden Raspberry Awards, often shortened to the Razzies is an award ceremony in recognition of the worst in film.

A few tudents came up with an idea to make films and organise a competition on the BEST and the WORST movies.

The categories copied the Oscars and the Razzies. Best /Worst - Screenplay, Picture, Actor/Actress in a Leading Role, Actor/Actress  in a Supporting Role, Special Effects, Stunts, Camera and Director.

Students teamed up and made films on different topics of their own choice.

The nominees were all the films the students shot. The best ones have been awarded...received recognision and got the best mark.We were enjoying the lesson and had lots of fun.
The best films have been uploaded to the school YouTube storage space.

Better English more Opportunities

English is the most commonly used and an important language in today’s global society. Knowing English will make you more employable in every country in the world. It’s the language of business, the internet and modern culture. Having a confident grasp of English is essential in helping you get the most out of your career. 
It is good to make English your hobby and improve your English through different activites you enjoy.
The British Council has a wide range of free online resources to help adults, teenagers and children learn English. The resources include videos, mobile apps, games, stories, listening activities and grammar exercises.
Boost your confidence, improve your language skills, have better English and grasp the opportunity.

Some good tips:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/explore-english-language-culture

An amazing trip to London

In order to get the best out of London we organised a school trip. Our top priorities were to make the trip safe, and most of all, fun!

London and the South East have one of the mildest climates in the UK, but the weather can be unpredictable. Londoners get used to carrying both an umbrella and sunglasses to be prepared for all eventualities!
We did the same.

We spent over a week in the very central part of London, but didn´t experience even a sign of clouds, rain and windy weather. 

We were lucky!

March was just the perfect choice and time to explore London's outdoor attractions.
We have visited the notoriously famous places of interest and of course much more...

We went behind-the scenes of the Harry Potter film series, located at the Warner Bros. Studio where it all began.
We just couldn´t miss the amazing THE MAKING THE HARRY POTTER!

Comparatives and superlatives are ready. Are you?

Today's English lesson in C1/G1 was more interesting than usual.

Throughout the lesson, the students get plenty of practice using comparative and superlative structures.

This fun class activity is an imaginative and insightful way how to teach students to associate comparatives and superlatives with a variety of questions.

The class is split into two or three big teams of three or four.  Each group is given a copy of the board game, a dice and counters, which should all be placed on the START square,

Students must form comparatives or superlatives and then answer the questions in full and give extra details.

If a student cannot form the question correctly or fails to provide an answer, he/she should miss a turn.

The winner is the first students to the FINISH.

Today we all WON. Had fun and learned a lot!