A brief guide on how to expand your English vocabulary A while back, I was at the Tate Museum in London and saw the following: Do you notice anything unfamiliar in this sentence: “When I’m not at College I’m hockeying or Tate-ing or Museuming”? The words “hockeying”, “Tate-ing” and “museuming” don’t really exist. But theyContinueContinue reading “Decoding vocabulary”
Author Archives: Mel Guarino
How much time do you need to move up levels?
When preparing students for proficiency exams, how do you bridge the gap between their actual level and the level they need to be at?
What do the IELTS bands mean?
Learn what your score really means Photo by ThisIsEngineering on Pexels.com Every test has a score range. In school, this may be shown as numbers (0–10), letters (A–F), or percentages. In the IELTS test, scores are given as bands, ranging from 0 and 9. And then the final result – or overall band – isContinueContinue reading “What do the IELTS bands mean?”
What to expect on test day
Taking the IELTS test? See what to expect. Picture this: you have studied and you are prepared for the IELTS test. You know how many papers there are, you know how to tackle each question type and you feel very confident. It’s great. But what to expect on the day of the test? Photo byContinueContinue reading “What to expect on test day”
Which is the IELTS test for me?
A quick guide to help you decide on which IELTS to take Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com There are mainly two types of IELTS tests: Academic and General Training. If you are planning to study in a country where English is the official language, you will be asked to provide proof of proficiency inContinueContinue reading “Which is the IELTS test for me?”
A teacher’s worth
If you work in the ELT industry, you may have heard that teachers are underpaid, or that they are not given enough hours, or that preparation time is not compensated.
English opens doors
Or ‘how speaking English changed my life’ Even though English is not my first language, it has become my primary language. And it has enabled me to have a life I hadn’t imagined possible even in my wildest dreams. At 17 I took part in a youth exchange program, but I didn’t embark on thisContinueContinue reading “English opens doors”
The IELTS dilemma
Or how “advanced vocabulary” can have a negative impact on writing scores Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com If you consume any English-learning content on the internet, you must have come across social media accounts highlighting the difference between English and IELTS English. According to these profiles, “regular English” simply won’t do, and you’ll onlyContinueContinue reading “The IELTS dilemma”
Job search in Berlin
After spending the past two years in London and focusing on teaching online, now that Europe seems to be opening up and that I am moving to Berlin, I’ve decided to look for a teaching job face-to-face. I guess I’ve missed the classroom at least a little bit. My first impressions – yet to beContinueContinue reading “Job search in Berlin”
CELTA: is it worth it?
Is taking the Cambridge CELTA course worth it? Read on for my take on it.
vspoke language 