FLUENCY

Useful Phrases for New Year’s Resolutions

December 31, 2021January 4, 2022 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

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A New Year, new opportunities to improve your English! It’s time to start thinking about New Year resolutions.

A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something in the future. In English there are different ways to talk about our resolutions depending on how determined we are to accomplish them.

There are different websites with useful information about how to make and keep New Year’s resolutions. However, here I’m going to talk about the grammar behind talking about our resolutions in English.

In the table below you can find some useful sentence starters that you can use to talk about your New Year’s resolutions.

Sentence starter	Meaning	Example
(+) I’m going to + base form (-) I’m not going to + base form	It’s a plan or intention for the future	I’m going to practice English every day. I’m not going to eat junk food.
(+) I‘m planning to + base form	Things that you are almost definitely going to do. Things that you have already scheduled or made some preparations for.	I’m planning to take English classes during the summer.
I hope to + base form I‘d like to + base form	Things you want to do but you it’s not a definite plan	I hope to travel more. I’d like to lose weight.
I might + base form I may + base form I‘m thinking about + gerund	Things you are considering, but you’re not sure if you will do it or not.	I might travel to Brazil. I may apply to grad school. I’m thinking about changing careers.

Practice time

Choose 1 item per column.
Write the names of each item in order. For example: hamburger, wine, mountain, Whatsapp.
Repeat step 2 two more times.
Swipe left to find out your resolution.
Use the sentence starters in the chart below and the words in the New Year’s resolution generator to make your sentences.

Examples:

I’m going to stop taking selfies after zumba.

I’m not going to stop taking selfies after zumba.

I hope to stop taking selfies after zumba.

I‘m thinking about stopping taking selfies after zumba.

Share your resolutions with us.

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FLUENCY

Useful English Phrases to Ask for Help

August 9, 2021October 20, 2021 teacherjulieta3 Comments

Asking for help is an important skill that we need to develop in order to communicate effectively with our classmates and colleagues.

Note: In English “a hand” sometimes means “help“

to lend someone a hand = to help someone

Example: I was very busy with the clients, so John lent me a hand with the final report.

As you can see, in English there are different ways of asking for help. Here there is a list of useful English phrases that you can use instead of saying:

Help me, please.

Could you help me, please?

Listen and Repeat

/kudju help mee pleez/

2. Could you lend me a hand?

Listen and Repeat

/kudju lenmee uh hand/

3. Would you mind lending me a hand?

Listen and Repeat

/wudju mind lenduhng mee uh hand/

4. Can I ask a favor?

Listen and Repeat

/kuhnai askuh fAyvr/

5. Can you do me a favor?

Listen and Repeat

/kuhnju doo mee uh fAyvr

6. I have a favor to ask.

Listen and Repeat

/ai havuh fAyvr tuhask/

7. I need a big favor.

Listen and Repeat

/ai needuh big fAyvr/

8. Do you have a minute?

Listen and Repeat

/duju havuh minut/

9. Could you help me _________ ? (verb in the base form)

Listen and Repeat

/kuhdju help mee ______ /

10. Could you ________ for me? (verb in the base form)

Listen and Repeat

/kuhdju _______ for mee/

Practice Time

Read each of the phrases and record yourself. Listen to your voice.

For you, what sounds are difficult to pronounce?
How many times can you say each of the sentences without making a mistake?

Share your answers in the comments below.

FLUENCY

Useful English Phrases for Better Communication

July 5, 2021October 20, 2021 teacherjulieta3 Comments

Play the Audio

If you don’t understand what other people say, it’s a good idea to ask for clarification instead of saying:

“I don’t understand” or “Sorry, my English is very bad”

Here there is a list of useful expressions for asking for clarification. These expressions will help you speak fluently and communicate better with your classmates or colleagues. It’s important that you learn how to pronounce each of the phrases correctly. There is an audio below each phrase so you can check the pronunciation that will help you learn them easily.