Tag: ESL

Feedback for English Learners

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Have you ever thought:

“My teacher doesn’t give me feedback.”

Many students think feedback only means:

  • ✔️ and ❌ on their answers.
  • Written comments on their homework.
  • A grade at the end of a test.

Actually, feedback is much more than that.

What Is Feedback?

Feedback is any information that helps you learn and improve your English.

Feedback can happen:

  • Before an activity
  • During an activity
  • After an activity

If your teacher helps you improve your English, you are receiving feedback.

What Does Feedback Look Like?

Teachers give you feedback when they:

  • explain why an answer is correct or incorrect.
  • check the answers with the whole class.
  • correct your pronunciation.
  • teach useful vocabulary before an activity.
  • remind you about common grammar mistakes.
  • give you an example or a model answer.
  • ask questions such as “Why did you choose that answer?”
  • encourage you to try again instead of giving you the answer immediately.
  • give you a listening transcript after a listening activity.
  • write comments on your writing.
  • say things like “Good job” or “Excellent pronunciation.”

All of these help you improve.

They are all forms of feedback.

Feedback Can Happen Before You Make a Mistake

Many students think feedback only happens after they make a mistake.

This isn’t true.

Sometimes teachers give feedback before an activity to help students avoid mistakes.

For example:

  • “Remember to use the past tense.”
  • “Listen carefully to the final sound.”
  • “Don’t forget to use articles.”
  • “Here’s a model answer.”

This is feedback because it helps you succeed.

Feedback Is a Two-Way Conversation

Your teacher wants to help you.

But there is one important thing to remember:

Your teacher can’t read your mind.

If you stay quiet all the time, your teacher may not know:

  • what you understand.
  • what you don’t understand.
  • which grammar is difficult for you.
  • which words you don’t know.
  • which pronunciation you need help with.

Teachers can only give personal feedback when they can hear your English, see your work, and understand what you are thinking.

If you never speak, ask questions, or share your ideas, your teacher doesn’t know what help you need.

Two Students

Imagine these two students.

Student A

  • Keeps the camera and microphone off most of the time.
  • Rarely answers questions.
  • Never asks for help.
  • Finishes activities silently.
  • Doesn’t tell the teacher when something is confusing.

At the end of the course, Student A says:

“My teacher didn’t give me enough feedback.”

Student B

  • Participates in class.
  • Answers questions.
  • Asks for clarification.
  • Reads answers aloud.
  • Tries to speak, even when making mistakes.
  • Says, “Can you check my answer?”
  • Says, “Can you explain that again?”

At the end of the course, Student B says:

“My teacher gave me lots of feedback.”

What is the difference?

The teacher wanted to help both students.

But Student B gave the teacher many opportunities to provide feedback.

How Can You Receive More Feedback?

Don’t wait for your teacher to guess what you need.

You can:

  • ask questions.
  • explain your answers.
  • tell your teacher when something is difficult.
  • ask, “Can you check my answer?”
  • ask, “How can I improve?”
  • try to speak, even if you are not sure.

Remember:

Your mistakes help your teacher understand what you need to learn next.

A Challenge

During your next lesson, pay attention to the feedback you receive.

Count how many times your teacher:

  • checks answers.
  • corrects pronunciation.
  • explains grammar.
  • teaches new vocabulary.
  • gives an example.
  • asks you a question.
  • gives a hint.
  • praises your work.
  • corrects a mistake.

You may be surprised to discover that you receive feedback many times during a single lesson.

Before You Complete a Course Survey…

Take a moment to think about these questions:

  • Did my teacher explain my mistakes?
  • Did my teacher check the answers with the class?
  • Did my teacher give examples or model answers?
  • Did my teacher correct pronunciation?
  • Did my teacher teach vocabulary and grammar?
  • Did my teacher answer questions?
  • Did I ask for help when I needed it?
  • Did I participate enough for my teacher to give me personal feedback?

Remember

Feedback is not only ✔️ and ❌.

Feedback is anything that helps you improve your English.

The more you participate, the more opportunities your teacher has to help you.

So don’t be afraid to ask questions, make mistakes, and join the conversation.

Learning English is a partnership. Your teacher can’t read your mind, but together, you can make great progress

Feedback phrases

These are feedback phrases that students often hear in their ESL classes.

Let’s practice saying the phrases

  1. Flip the card
  2. Listen
  3. Repeat the sentences

can/ could/ would

teacherjulietaLeave a comment

In English, can, could, and would are very common modal verbs. We use them in everyday situations.

However, many learners feel confused because these words have different meanings.

The good news is that we can organize them into 3 different groups:

🟢 Ability

We use can and could to talk about ability, what a person is able to do.
This can be something you can do now, or something you were able to do in the past.

🔵 Permission

We use can and could to talk about permission. For example, when we ask if something is OK, or when we give someone permission to do something. Could is more polite than can.

🟣 Polite Requests

We use can, could, and would to make requests. For example, when we ask someone to do something for us.
Would is the most polite, and could is also polite.

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

ABILITY

PERMISSION

REQUESTS

SPEAKING

Future Tenses with Music! 🚀

teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Hello, amazing learners! 🌟

Are you ready to talk about your future plans and dreams? 🌈✨

In this activity, you’ll jam to a fantastic song 🎸🎤 while practicing future tenses! 🔮📚

Improve your grammar, listening, and speaking skills—all while having fun!

Click below to get started! 🎧

Connected Speech

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Linking Sounds Explained

In natural English speech, words don’t stand alone—they blend, connect, and flow together to create smooth, continuous sounds. This process is known as connected speech and includes several types of linking sounds. Let’s explore some common types of linking sounds with examples so you can sound more fluent and natural in English!

1. Consonant to Consonant Linking

When a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word begins with the same consonant sound, the consonants are linked. Instead of pronouncing the consonant twice, it’s only said once.

Examples:

  • red dress becomes [redress]
  • big gorilla becomes [bigorilla]
  • feel lucky becomes [feelucky]

Sometimes, linking also occurs even if the consonants are not exactly the same but have a similar sound:

  • need to becomes [neeto]
  • sleep better becomes [sleebetter]
  • breath through becomes [breathrough]

This kind of linking makes speech sound smoother and avoids the “choppiness” that can happen when each word is pronounced separately.

2. Consonant to Vowel Linking

When one word ends in a consonant sound and the following word begins with a vowel sound, the two sounds flow directly into each other, often creating a new sound that feels like a single, continuous word.

Examples:

  • an elephant becomes [anelephant]
  • an apple becomes [anapple]
  • these are becomes [theezare]

This linking creates a natural flow in sentences, making each phrase feel connected and smooth.

3. Vowel to Vowel Linking

When one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, we often add a “/w/” or “/y/” sound between them to link the words together. This makes it easier to move smoothly from one vowel sound to the next.

Examples:

  • two apples becomes [twowapples]
  • she asked becomes [sheyasked]
  • see Anna becomes [seeyAnna]

Adding this “w” or “y” sound when linking vowel sounds is a small change, but it can make a big difference in how natural your English sounds.

Adding the /w/ Sound

When to Use It:

  • Use the /w/ sound to link words when the first word ends in a rounded vowel sound like /u/ or /oʊ/.
  • The /w/ sound naturally fits because it flows smoothly from these rounded vowels, making the words sound connected.

Examples:

  • go out ➔ /gowout/
  • two apples ➔ /twowapples/
  • you are ➔ /youw-are/

Explanation for Students: When you say “two apples,” notice how you glide from the “o” sound in “two” to the “a” sound in “apples.” The /w/ sound fills the gap, so it sounds like “twowapples,” not “two…apples.”

Adding the /y/ Sound

When to Use It:

  • Use the /y/ sound to link words when the first word ends in a front vowel sound like /i/ or /eɪ/.
  • This sound flows well from vowels that are produced with the tongue closer to the front of the mouth, like “see” or “say.”

Examples:

  • she asked ➔ /sheyasked/
  • see it ➔ /seeyit/
  • my arm ➔ /myyarm/

Explanation for Students: With phrases like “she asked,” the /y/ sound helps you glide from “she” to “asked” smoothly. If you said “she…asked” without a linking sound, it would feel like a break in your speech. Adding the /y/ sound makes it easier and smoother to say.

Practice Sentences 🎧🗣️

Try reading these sentences aloud and see if you can connect the sounds smoothly! Practice makes progress, so don’t be afraid to repeat each one a few times. 💪

Sentences:

  1. She got a new dress for the big event.
    ➔ Linking: [She got-a new dress for the big-event.]
  2. I have a nice apple and a banana.
    ➔ Linking: [I hav-a nais-apple an-a banana.]
  3. They went out after dinner.
    ➔ Linking: [They went-aut-after dinner.]
  4. I saw a red apple in the basket.
    ➔ Linking: [I sow-a red-appl-in the basket.]
  5. Can you go out with me?
    ➔ Linking: [C’n you go-w-aut with me?]

Tips for Practicing Linked Sounds 🌟

  1. Listen and Repeat 🎧: Listen to native speakers (movies, songs, podcasts) and repeat what you hear. Try to mimic the way they connect words naturally.
  2. Record Yourself 🎙️: Recording your practice lets you hear your own progress and spot areas to improve.
  3. Practice with a Friend 👥: Practice with someone else! Reading and linking sounds together can help you build confidence.

Tips and Tricks for Online Classes

teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Are you an English learner looking to improve your English skills online?

Look no further! Here I’ll share tips and tricks to help you succeed in your language-learning journey.

The following tips can help you maximize your online classes so you can achieve your learning goals and become better at speaking English.

1. Set a schedule and stick to it ⏰

Plan out your study time, and attend online classes on time. Consistency is key to learning a new language.

2 Practice regularly 💪

The more you practice, the more confident you will become in your language skills. Look for opportunities to practice during your class, such as actively participating in the breakout room activities.

3 Improve your listening skills 👂🔈

Listen to your English teacher and classmates and try to guess the meaning of new words from context. Don’t use your translator to translate every single new word you hear. Try to listen to different accents and dialects to improve your comprehension.

4 Improve your reading skills 👀 📚

Read English language materials such as books, articles, and news stories to improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary.

5 Participate in class discussions 🗣️

Don’t be afraid to speak up and participate in class discussions. This will help you to practice your speaking and listening skills and will also give you the chance to learn from your classmates.

6 Take notes 📝

Taking notes during online classes can help you remember important information and improve your writing skills.

7 Ask for feedback 🙋

Ask your teacher for feedback on your language skills and areas that need improvement. Use this feedback to set goals and work on areas that need improvement.

8 Use online resources 💻

Take advantage of online resources such as grammar websites, vocabulary lists, and language learning apps to supplement your class work and improve your language skills.

9 Connect with your classmates 🤝

Connect with your classmates outside of class to practice your language skills and build your confidence. You can creat a Whatsapp/ Telegram/ Facebook/ Wechat study group.

10 Be patient and persistent 🧘

Learning a new language takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and persistent in your efforts to improve your language skills.

💡 Finally, learning a new language can be challenging, and it’s important to be kind to yourself during the process. Making mistakes is a natural part of learning, and it’s okay to not get everything right the first time.

🏆 Instead of being hard on yourself, try to focus on the progress you’re making and the improvements you’re seeing in your language skills. Celebrate your successes and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

🗵 Remember, everyone makes mistakes, even native speakers!

😊 By being kind to yourself and embracing your mistakes as opportunities for growth, you’ll be able to learn English with greater ease and confidence

Can you think of other tips to succeed in your online classes? Share your comments below ⬇️

How to Write a Short Story for the B1 Preliminary Test (PET)

teacherjulieta21 Comments

A short story is a piece of fiction that has a limited number of words and a few characters.

Parts of a short story
  • Title: It summarizes the whole story, or it is related to the main theme. The theme is the central idea or belief in a short story.
  • Exposition: It is the beginning of the story where you introduce the main characters. It also serves as the introduction to the next part.
  • Climax: It is the action part where the main characters try to solve the conflict or problem.
  • Resolution: In this part, the conflict is solved.

Let’s see a short story sample for the B1 Writing test

Useful vocabulary for a short story

Time expressions:

  • at that moment
  • as soon as
  • _____ minutes later
  • just in time
  • then
  • after that
  • meanwhile
  • while
  • one morning in + month
  • one afternoon in + month
  • one evening in + month

Adverbs and adverbials to spice up your story

  • suddenly
  • in the end
  • eventually
  • unexpectedly
  • right away
  • nearly
  • actually
  • in fact
  • apparently
  • gradually
  • basically
  • obviously
  • anyway
  • all of a sudden
  • without warning

Finishing your short story

  • in the end
  • eventually
  • finally
  • luckily
  • when it was all over

Verb tenses used for short stories

Short stories usually take place in the past, for that reason, the most common narrative tenses you should use for your short story are:

Writing Practice 1

You are going to write a short story about a past mistake you have made.

Plan your story

The following questions can help you make your own story

  1. Where were you?
  2. What were you doing?
  3. What was happening around you?
  4. What surprising thing happened suddenly?
  5. What did you do?
  6. What did you think/ say?
  7. How were you feeling
  8. How did the story end?

Write your story in about 100 – 120 words in the comment section below.

Checklist:

  1. Title: Have you included a title that accurately reflects the content of your story?
  2. Exposition: Have you introduced the characters, setting, and plot of your story in a clear and concise manner?
  3. Action part: Have you included a sequence of events or actions that develop the conflict and engage the reader?
  4. Resolution: Have you provided a satisfactory conclusion to your story that ties up any loose ends and provides a resolution to the conflict?
  5. Adjectives and Adverbs: Have you used descriptive words (adjectives) and words that describe actions (adverbs) to create vivid imagery and convey your story’s mood and tone?
  6. Narrative tenses: Have you used the appropriate narrative tenses (simple past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous) to tell your story consistently and clearly?
  7. Clear ideas: Have you organized your story in a logical and coherent manner, ensuring that your ideas are expressed in a clear and concise manner?

If you use this list, you can check that you have included everything you need to in your short story.

This will help you create a story that makes sense and is interesting for people to read. In addition, if you include all the items from the checklist, you will get an EXCELLENT writing score.

Type your story in the “LEAVE A REPLY” textbox and you will receive feedback directly to your email.

I will post your final story after you have received feedback.

Leave a Reply

Writing Practice 2

Write a short story beginning with one of the sentences below:

Plan the content:

  • It was midnight when the phone rang.
  • Alex had been working hard all day and was looking forward to going home.
  • We had been driving for hours when we saw the sign for a small hotel and decided to stop.

1 Write what happened simply, in about 50 words.

2 Think about how you could improve your story by adding more details. For example, adjectives and adverbs.

3 Think about what tenses you need for each part of the story. For example, how to set the scene, and what significant events happened before the story starts.

Write your story in about 100 – 120 words in the box below.

Checklist:

  1. Title: Have you included a title that accurately reflects the content of your story?
  2. First line: Have you used the given first line from the instructions to begin your story?
  3. Exposition: Have you introduced the characters, setting, and plot of your story in a clear and concise manner?
  4. Action part: Have you included a sequence of events or actions that develop the conflict and engage the reader?
  5. Resolution: Have you provided a satisfactory conclusion to your story that ties up any loose ends and provides a resolution to the conflict?
  6. Adjectives and Adverbs: Have you used descriptive words (adjectives) and words that describe actions (adverbs) to create vivid imagery and convey your story's mood and tone?
  7. Narrative tenses: Have you used the appropriate narrative tenses (simple past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous) to tell your story consistently and clearly?
  8. Clear ideas: Have you organized your story in a logical and coherent manner, ensuring that your ideas are expressed in a clear and concise manner?

If you use this list, you can check that you have included everything you need to in your short story.

This will help you create a story that makes sense and is interesting for people to read. In addition, if you include all the items from the checklist, you will get an EXCELLENT writing score.

Type your story in the "LEAVE A REPLY" textbox and you will receive feedback directly to your email.

I will post your final story after you have received feedback.

How to make a plan to improve your English

teacherjulieta1 Comment

So your dream is to improve your English. But how many times have you failed?

You have spent a lot of time dreaming, thinking or talking about what you want. But you haven’t taken the necessary steps to achieve it.

It’s not because you are lazy or incapable. It’s because perhaps you are confused or you don’t know where to start. You don’t have a PLAN yet.

English learning plans, can serve as a roadmap or guide to making your dreams a reality.

An English learning plan can help you if:

  • You are confused
  • You feel that your learning progress is out of control
  • You feel your learning progress is stagnant
  • You struggle making the right decisions
  • You feel lost and lack direction
  • You have tried many things and nothing has helped
  • You are tired and want to give up

What is an English learning planing?

An English learning plan is both a roadmap and a reminder of your goals. It helps you realize your dreams and the things that you need to do to make them true.

An English learning plan can help you to become aware of your strengths and your weaknesses.

Your English learning plan doesn’t need to be super detailed. It should be flexible so you can adapt it according to the circumstances.

Don’t forget that LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE. Things happen. Your plan needs to leave room for unexpected changes and crises.

Making English learning plans can help you achieve your goals easier than if you are confused and have no idea what to do.

5 benefits of having an English learning plan

1 An English learning plan helps you make your dreams a reality

An English learning plan gives you the confidence to take action and be proactive.

2 An English learning plan helps you prioritize

Making an English learning plan helps you identify what you want and focus on things that move you in the right direction

3 An English learning plan helps you make better decisions

When you know your goals it is easier to make the right decisions that help you accomplish your goals

4 An English learning plan keeps you motivated

When you write down your goals it’s easier to stay focused and motivated.

5 An English learning plan makes you recognize your strengths and weaknesses

An English learning plan is a tool that makes you think critically and reflect on your learning needs. It helps you identify the skills that you master and the skills you need to improve to achieve your goals.

How to make an English learning plan: step by step

1. The most important thing to making any plan is, to BE HONEST with yourself.

2. Take a moment to reflect on your habits, your learning story, your circumstances, your strengths, and your weaknesses.

3. No one but you can identify the things that are easy for you and the things that are challenging for you.

4. You are the only one that can identify the things/ habits/ beliefs that are preventing you from moving forward.

5. Finally, remember that becoming fluent in English is a goal that will require that you spend a lot of time and resources. If you are not willing to pay the price then it will always be a DREAM.

6. If you are not willing to organize your life, give up unhealthy habits or if you can’t change your lifestyle to accommodate time to practice, then it’s going to be very difficult to improve your English.

Now it’s time to make your own learning plan

Below you can see a template that will help you reflect and create your own English learning plan.

Download PDF

How to Write a Formal Email for the B1 Preliminary Test or IELTS General Training

teacherjulieta2 Comments

Formal emails are the ones that people write to people they don’t know well. The language used in these types of emails is more formal and polite.

informal emailformal email
friends
family members
people we know well		people we don’t know
bosses or managers
doctors, teachers and professors

Formal emails have a standard format, so they must include the following parts:

  1. Greetings

We say hi to the other person. Depending on the kind of relationship we have with the person we are writing to, we can use the following greetings:

  • Dear Mr./Mrs./ Ms. + Last name,

For example: Dear Mr. Smith,

  • Dear Sir/ Madam,

If you don’t know the name and last name of the recipient

  • To whom it may concern

This is a more generic formulaic expression.

2. Introduction

In this part, we must indicate briefly and clearly the reason for writing. It should be consistent with the subject of the email. We can use the following introductory phrases:

  • I’m writing with regard to … (email subject)
  • I’m writing to … (ask, inform, request, send, confirm, etc)
  • I’m writing in reference to … (email subject, e.g. a job post, an advertisement, a website, etc)

3. Body

There are no formulaic expressions or conventional formulas for the body of the text because the information that we share in the body of the email varies according to what you need to communicate.

There is one general rule for this part: it should be divided into short paragraphs.

4. Closing paragraph

There are various ways to end your email. The most common formulaic expressions are the following:

  • I look forward to hearing from you soon / at your earliest convenient time.
  • Thank you in advance.
  • Thank you for your attention.
  • If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
  • For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
  • Please let me know if you have any questions.

5. Goodbye

Here you can find a list of the most common phrases to end a formal email:

  • Sincerely,
  • Kind regards,
  • Best regards,
  • Yours faithfully, (only if you began your email with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’)
  • Yours sincerely, (only if began your email with ‘Dear Mr./Mrs./ Ms. + Last name)
  • Regards,

6. Signature

We write our full name (name + last name)

Now that you know which parts should be included in a formal email, let’s see an example:

Ana has read an ad about some English courses on a school website.

  • She is 23 years old. She has graduated from college.
  • She wants to take an IELTS course in July.
  • She needs to get information about dates and prices.
  • She wants to stay with a host family.
  • She wants a room for her and her friend.
Language School

Come and study English at our school!
Summer and winter intensive courses
Highly experienced teachers
One month courses for all levels
Reasonable prices
Accommodation with host families
Pro tips for writing formal emails
  • Use the standard format that English speakers use to write formal emails.
  • Use formulaic expressions.
  • DO NOT use contractions (I’m, I’ve, I’d, don’t, can’t, won’t, etc.).
  • Use formal words and indirect questions (e.g. I was wondering if …/ I would be grateful if you …)
  • Don’t forget to START your email by saying why are you writing or what you are

Time to practice

The best way to improve your writing is to practice. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.

Write an email to get more information about the following course:

Computer courses in Canada
One -or two-week courses in different parts of Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Halifax)
Professional instructors
Morning and afternoon classes
All levels, beginners to advanced
Small groups or private lessons

For more information email Robert Anderson at info@academy.com

Don’t forget to explain why you are writing and give some personal information

Ask your questions, and ask them to send you information

Clauses of Contrast

teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Although, though, even though, in spite of, and despite are words that help us connect contrasting ideas clearly and fluently. We use them to introduce a clause in a sentence which is in contrast to another clause in the same sentence.

You already know how to use basic connectors such as so and but. In the example below, but is a contrast connector.

Now, it’s time to learn other connectors that help us communicate more complex ideas.

NOTE: A dependent clause is NOT a full sentence. It is a phrase (group of words) that is incomplete, in other words, it is an incomplete thought. We need to complete the idea by using a connector and an independent clause.

An independent clause is a phrase that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

Time to practice

The best way to improve your English is by practicing. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.

Level 1

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Level 2

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Level 3

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