The 50 most common Irregular Verbs

Language Reflection

Proficiency Tests

Os exames de proficiência são provas desenvolvidas por renomadas universidades estrangeiras com a finalidade de comprovar o nível de proficiência em inglês de alunos do mundo todo. As vantagens em se obter um certificado de proficiência são inúmeras: oportunidades de intercâmbio; trabalho no exterior; um currículo mais competitivo; ou até mesmo satisfação pessoal. Os certificados mais comuns hoje em dia são o TOEFL, IELTS e os exames de Cambridge (PET, KET, FCE, CAE, CPE). 

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

O TOEFL é o exame mais conhecido, desenvolvido por universidades americanas e, por consequência, o exame que geralmente é exigido para a realização de intercâmbios nos Estados Unidos. Hoje em dia existem dois tipos de TOEFL, o iBT (Internet Based Test) e o ITP (Institutional Testing Program). No iBT o candidato é avaliado nas habilidades de speaking, reading, listening e writing, enquanto que no ITP ele não é avaliado em relação à produção oral. O TOEFL tem a validade de dois anos. Através do TOEFL o aluno pode ser classificado dentre os níveis A2 e C1. Para maiores informações, visite o site oficial do TOEFL clicando aqui.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

O IELTS é o segundo exame mais procurado por estudantes da língua inglesa. Ele também tem um foco acadêmico, sendo aceito pela maior parte das universidades estrangeiras, mas, ao contrário do TOEFL, foi desenvolvido por instituições britânicas. Ele também possui duas modalidades: uma para candidatos interessados em oportunidades acadêmicas, e outra para candidatos que querem apenas um certificado para fins pessoais. O candidato é testado dentro das quatro habilidades, speaking, reading, listening e writing, e recebe uma nota entre 0 e 9, que o situa dentre os níveis A1 e C2. O IELTS não tem prazo de validade, mas a maioria das instituições segue a recomendação de não aceitá-lo após o prazo de dois anos. Saiba mais clicando aqui. 

Exames de Cambridge:

Os exames de Cambridge também são aceitos pela maior parte das universidades de língua inglesa, embora seja mais frequentemente aceito na Europa do que nos Estados Unidos e, muitas vezes, mais utilizados para situações profissionais do que acadêmicas. Os seus exames se diferenciam do TOEFL e do IELTS por serem divididos em níveis de acordo com o CEF. Sendo assim, o candidato faz uma prova direcionada ao seu nível de inglês, e não uma prova geral que avalia todos os níveis ao mesmo tempo. A imagem abaixo ilustra os diferentes exames e os seus níveis do CEF correspondentes. O YLE é para crianças e não tem nota. Do KET ao CPE o candidato aprovado recebe uma nota, A (+ 80%), B (75-79%) ou C (60-74%). Os exames de Cambridge não tem prazo de validade.

Cambridge também oferece os exames KET, PET e FCE na versão "for schools", o que significa que as provas, embora tenham o mesmo grau de dificuldade das regulares, possuem assuntos mais acessíveis à realidade de jovens candidatos. Além disso, Cambridge oferece alguns exames desenvolvidos para inglês de negócios (BEC, BULATS), inglês na área de direito (ILEC) e na área de finanças (ICFE). Confira as possibilidades no quadro abaixo. 

Saiba mais sobre os exames de Cambridge visitando o site oficial.

Confira abaixo uma tabela comparativa com diversos exames de proficiência em inglês e os respectivos níveis avaliados. 

(Source: http://marifquintela.wixsite.com/aulasdeingles/exames-de-proficincia)

Common European Framework

What is the CEF?

It is an European reference that all nations in the world can use to be able to address your second language level.

Level group	Level group name	Level	Level name	Description
A	Basic user	A1	Breakthrough or beginner	Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people they know and things they have. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
		A2	Waystage or elementary	Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
B	Independent user	B1	Threshold or intermediate	Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
		B2	Vantage or upper intermediate	Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
C	Proficient user	C1	Effective operational proficiency or advanced	Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer clauses, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
		C2	Mastery or proficiency	Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

It works as a guide, people can be in different levels in their different skills/abilities (listening- speaking- writing- reading).

Improving Communication

Here follows a list of activities that can help you guys improve your oral expression in English.

1. Do the homework given by the teacher.
2. Listen to songs in English.
3. Listen to songs in English and search for the meaning of the words ( English dictionary searching for synonyms and antonyms; and google image).
4. Listen to songs in English and sing alone and repeat the lyrics.
5. Do a list of the words you have studied in each class.
6. Create your own dictionary- using words you have learned.
7. Write post-its/notes with everyday expressions and stick around your bedroom, bathroom or in the hallways of your house.
8. Associate new words that you have learned.
9. Write cards to retain the meaning of new words, back and forth, writing on the back the synonym/ antonym of words in English or even pictures/ draws.
10. Try to identify the word classification: verb, noun (substantive), preposition, adjectives, etc.
11. Record yourself reading texts or spontaneous audios to listen afterwards to observe your pronunciation (you can always ask your teacher in case you have any doubts).
12. Record expressions and lines from film/series characters and try to repeat them.
13. Watch some news in Portuguese and after in English or vice-versa, to contextualize it.
14. Read synopses of films and books' abstracts- from books and movies you've read and watched and also from the ones you intent to read/watch;
15. Invite friends to study and to practice English. Teach the things you know to family and friends.
16. When you watch a foreign movie, try not to read the subtitles.

Vocabulary through Video

Listening Practice

Websites for free English listening practice

Free websites for English listening practice usually fall under one of three categories:

• Sites for conversational English listening. Elllo.org is a typical website for conversational English listening. The site contains conversations in every kind of English accent, including non-native accents.

• Sites for practical “daily life” English listening. Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab is a good example of the second type of English listening website. It’s full of listening exercises related to shopping, travel, school and other daily situations.

• Sites where people can listen to academic/educational talks in English. TED Talks just might be the most famous source of English listening practice. It’s a collection of educational monologues (presentations with one speaker). TED is so popular among English learners that there’s a TED site just for ESL students: TEDxESL.

Have fun practicing!

English Logic vs. Portuguese Language

Some question for students reflection- after watching the video:

* Do they look nervous or worried about the mistakes they can possibly make?

* Do their mistakes interfere in our comprehension?

* What is the best way to improve our language skills: 

- to speak imperfectly and communicate, and sometimes be corrected for our eventual mistakes;

OR

- avoid mistakes and do not speak until we are 100% sure of all structures.

* Are you 100% sure of all grammatical structures in Portuguese? When you write a dissertation or a report for work (or some sort of important writing) in Portuguese, do you proof read it or you always write it all correct straight away?

No language has its rules carved in stone. Language is a living system and as we use and interact with it (interaction is its purpose, by the way) we change it. Mistakes are part of communication as much as they are part of its reconstruction.

Language is  privilege of humans, and it is here to be used and abused!

History VS.

Hello dear students,

This week I am posting a collection of videos from TED (a famous educational youtube channel) where they illustrate 2 sides of a story- regarding famous characters or events in history.

They expose the facts in a court where there are the judge, the defence attorney and the prosecutor.

I find it very interesting!

Hope you like it!

Helen Keller- an inspiration for us all

Helen Keller

Helen was born in the United States in 1880. She became very sick at the age of 9 months and she then became permanently blind and deaf.

Her parents noticed at the age of 6 that she had a lot of spirit, but she was in a prison due to her early blindness and deafness. They felt no one could help her get out of her prison, the key has been thrown away and lost forever.

But even so they persisted, they searched many specialists and they've heard of a school who taught deaf and blind people. They brought the the teacher Anne Sullivan to their house, hoping she would help Helen somehow.

Anne Sullivan was persistent and caring. She saw Helen had a lot of potential and she never gave up.

Helen learned to read, write, express herself in English, Latin, French and German. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of art-degree (Harvard).

This is an amazing inspiring story, for us all!

In this video Helen is with her friend, communicating with her hands.

Helen also tried for many years to speak normally (she wasn't mute) but without a reference of sounds it was difficult. But even so she tried. You can she her speaking in this video.

Helen and Anne Sullivan

Helen and Anne Sullivan

MAGIC "E"! FANTASTIC PRONUNCIATION TIP

LINK TO PRACTICE

https://quizlet.com/270185664/ingles-the-magic-e-flash-cards/

Thesaurus

Thesaurus: is a dictionary of synonyms

Very useful when producing a language (writing or speaking) to know alternative words to communicate. It makes a great practice to learn new words!

WEBSITE AND APP

http://www.thesaurus.com

Example:

DIY (Do It Yourself)

DIY (Do It Yourself)

This is a great youtube channel for your English practice and there are many interesting tips!

Here are some of the:

Cooking and Measuring

Hello guys,

Welcome back!

Here are two interesting videos about kitchen utensils and about cooking measures that can be very helpful.

If you want to practice what you have just learned, here is the perfect link for it:

http://allrecipes.com