A student asked me to rate his speaking level. I didn't have time to Skype with him so I asked him to send me some audio files. Here's my feedback.
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Here's how to find FANTASTIC English teachers who can help you improve your English, get a better score in the CAE exam, and explain the narrative structure of Memento.
Just the best list of CAE Speaking Test part 1 questions. With answers from students around the world. AND feedback from me. No big deal. The usual.
A Skype coaching call with Sebastian and Tim. In this video we focused on Part 3 of the Speaking test.
Once again, I've spent my Friday night helping you pass your CAE Exam instead of going to one of the many parties I was invited to! In this post I go through a sample CAE Speaking Test Part 3 task and suggest a way to approach it.
Dear Students,
This week I've been thinking about the difference between good students and great students. One of the factors is that great students have a notebook in which they write down new words and phrases that they like and want to bring into their active vocabulary.
When I say something my best students have never heard before, they get a little smile on their face and they add it to their collection. It's the same when they're watching movies or reading articles on the BBC. A student in Greece (who had an extraordinary vocabulary) told me that he collected words like other people collect stamps.
Over time, such students build a vocabulary that sounds fresher, more 'native-like' than the average student.
The good news is, this technique is simple and you can start today!
Earlier, I was listening to a man talking about courage and bravery. He said, 'Ask tough questions - don't be meek'. Meek! It's a long time since I heard that word and I thought to myself, 'I'd love one of my students to use words like that.'
You could use it when talking about how you've changed:
"When I was a child I used to be quite meek; now I'm more assertive."
Or about someone's character:
"He seems to be quite meek, but in fact he's as tough as nails."
What words or phrases have you heard today that you want to add to your active vocabulary?