Using YouTube to Improve Your Pronunciation

YouTube isn't just a place to find funny videos or shorts of your favorite TV shows. You can actually use YouTube to help you improve your speaking and pronunciation skills. The video below, which works on word stress, was created by an English teacher for speakers of other languages, and is a good example of how you can use the Internet, and web sites like YouTube, to work on your English skills.



To find more videos like this one, put "english pronunciation" in the search field of YouTube and click! A number of videos to help you work on your pronunciation will show up.

Trip vs. Travel: Revealed!

Yesterday we asked you to think of the difference between trip and travel. If you looked at our examples, it was probably rather straightforward: trip is used as a noun (in this context) and travel is a verb. It's as easy as that!
So, let's see how you do with a few practice sentences. Fill in each blank with trip or travel.

1. We're going to take a ___ to Tena this weekend. My mom and dad will be ___ with us, but my younger sister couldn't make it because she is going on an end-of-the-school-year ___ with her friends.
2. My father ___ a lot for his job. He usually ___ by plane, but for his Chicago ___ he'll be ___ by bus, since it is only a few hours from here.
3. To make the most of your ___ , be sure to ___ lightly. Don't pack more than you can carry, since once you arrive to the camp you'll be ___ mainly by foot and will have to carry all of your belongings with you.

Answers:

1. trip, traveling, trip
2. travels, travels, trip, traveling
3. trip, travel, traveling

Trip vs. Travel

Trip and travel - two words that create confusion for many English language learners. So what is the difference? Why do students get confused?

Have a look at the examples below and see if you can figure out the difference for yourself. Come back tomorrow for the answer and some practice.

• Have a nice trip!
• Travel with us again soon.
• I am taking a trip this Sunday.
• I am traveling to Cuenca this Sunday.
• We plan to travel soon.
• Let's go on a shopping trip next week!
• After she graduated from high school, she spent a year traveling all over Europe.
• Is there going to be a school trip this year?
• I travel to work by train.
• The trip from Chicago to Minneapolis takes about 8 hours by car.
• I thought I might take a trip to the Amazon river basin sometime this year.

Picture from www.destination360.com.

See vs. Watch vs. Look: Practice!

Choose the correct verb (see, watch, or look) for each sentence.

(Remember: We see something static, unmoving. We also see the things around us, perhaps without paying much attention to them. We look at something in order to pay more attention to its appearance. We watch something when we want to know what happens (so therefore we generally watch something that is moving or that requires our attention). We use look when we want to direct someone's attention to something.)

1. Do you ___ that picture on the wall? It is a picture of my great-grandmother.
2. Tania can't ___ blood or she faints.
3. When you are done ___ the game, would you please help me in the kitchen?
4. Can you ___ my children tonight while I am at the meeting?
5. I need someone to ___ my computer. It isn't working.
6. ___ ! That little boy is going to fall out of the tree.
7. I don't ___ the difference between these two pictures. Are you sure they aren't the same?
8. ___ that man on the corner. He's acting suspicious.
9. Have you ___ The Lord of the Rings? It's a classic.
10. I want to learn how to make fanesca. Can I ___ you make it?
11. Don't ___ me! My hair's a mess!
12. I have this feeling someone is ___ me. It is really creepy.

Answers:

1. see
2. see
3. watching
4. watch
5. look at
   
6. Look
7. see
8. Watch
9. seen
10. watch
11. look at
12. watching

See, Watch, or Look?

Watch: to look at something for a period of time, especially something that is moving. We watch something when we are interested in what happens.

• Could you watch my purse while I go to the restroom?
• I love sitting at the window and watching the people walk by.
• We watched the basketball game on TV.

See: 1 to be aware of what is around you by using your eyes,
2 to watch a film or TV program

• Did you see Desperate Housewives last night? It was a rerun.
  
• When you see Jenny, please tell her not to be late for the party.
• Do you see that white church? That's San Agustín.

Look: to direct your eyes in order to see

• Look! There's Marlene with her boyfriend.
• Look over there - do you see that red bus?

Look at: to view something, to be interested in the appearance of something

• Look at Martha, isn't she pretty today?
• Can I look at your answers? Mine are all wrong.

See is usually used for something stationary or static (not moving)
E.g. You see blood, see the stars, see a picture/photograph, see a painting

Watch is usually for something that moves, or that requires attention
E.g. watch a movie, watch children playing, sports

Look (at) is to pay attention to a detail, or appearance
E.g. You can look at people, objects

Note:
Look at the children! (Check out their appearance or what they are doing. Do not pay a lot of attention to them, though.)
Watch the children, please. (Pay attention to them so that they don't get hurt or in trouble)
I can't see the children. (They are not within my view.)

American English? British? Australian?

Confused about which accent in English is better? Worried that you are learning the "wrong" accent? Here is a point of view that might put things in perspective.

Saying "I Love You" on Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at CEC!

Have you sent your loved one a valentine yet? If not, why not send an e-card? Or, create a handmade card using templates. If you are creative, try making your own valentine. Here are some typical greetings in English you will find on a valentine card:

• You're so sweet.
• Be my valentine.
• From (or to) my valentine.
• Be mine.
• Easy to Love.
• You're Mine.
• I'm Yours.

Celebrate today with a dinner for two, a quick email or phone call, or some candy hearts. Whatever you do, be sure to spend time telling those close to you how much you care about them.

Answers from yesterday's Valentine's Day Quiz:

1. February 14
2. three
3. Lupercalia
4. 17th century
5. 1840s
6. the British Museum