Yeah, I know, this weblog is supposed to be an English one, but I read this poem somewhere and i really liked it. I thought you might also like it.

قطار می رود

تو می روی

تمام ایستگاه می رود

و من چقدر ساده ام

که سالهای سال

در انتظار تو

کنار این قطار رفته ایستاده ام

و همچنان

به نرده های ایستگاه رفته

تکیه داده ام!

What is Bilingualism?

Definition 1: The use of more than one language.
Definition 2: The ability to communicate naturally and fluently in more than one language in all areas of life.

Between these definitions lie worlds. Somewhere in between we want to see our children.
And as we know that life means learning in our constantly changing world, we understand that Bilingualism is a process, not a result.

But why do we want our children to become bilingual?.....

Lost is an American serial drama television series. It follows the lives of plane crash survivors on a mysterious tropical island, after a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney, Australia and Los Angeles, United States crashes somewhere in the South Pacific. Each episode typically features a primary storyline on the island as well as a secondary storyline from another point in a character's life, though other time-related plot devices change this formula in later episodes. The pilot episode was first broadcast on September 22, 2004,^[1] and since then five full seasons have aired. The show airs on the ABC Network in the United States, as well as on regional networks in many other countries.....

Work

Do you work or study?

Tell me about your job

What do like about your work?

What things would you like to change?

Study

Do you work or study?

Tell me about your studies. What do you study?

What do you like most about your studies?

What are you planning to do with your studies in the future?

Home

Do you live in a house or a flat?

Can you describe it?

What is the best thing about it?

What would you like to change about it?

Home town.....

Context:

"Here, do you remember David Bedlington from school."

"Bedlington. The name rings a belll, but I can't put a face to him."

"He won the lottery last week. 3 million pounds. Just like that."

"You're joking."

"No, straight up. I was talking to him only yesterday. He's already left his job. He's going to buy a house in the Caribbean."

"Lucky sod. I've never won anything in my life."

"What about me. You won my friendship all those years ago."

"Oh God, I'm so depressed. Get me a drink."

Explanation: To seem familiar, or to make someone remember something.

Notes: Church bells used to be much more useful than they are today. In the days when ordinary people didn't have clocks or watches, they had to rely on the church bell ringing out to tell them when it was time to go to church or school. They therefore acted as a reminder.

Without Love -- dayz are
Without Love -- dayz are
"Sadday,
moanday,
tearsday,
wasteday,
thirstday,
frightday,
shatterday... so be in Luv everyday...

Flowers need sunshine, violets need dew, all angels in heaven know I need u. years may fly, tears may dry, but my friendship with u will never die.

A friend is sweet when its new….but it is sweeter when its TRUE! But u know what? Its sweetest when its you.

بخش های یک اتومبیل

Tehran, Dec 21, IRNA - Iranians throughout the world will celebrate the longest night of the Iranian calendar year, Yalda, in a tradition welcoming the birthday of the Goddess of Love, Mitra.
 

These photos by ISNA show the people in Tehran have been busy shopping for fruits and nuts in preparation for celebration of the Yalda Night. More photos are available on ISNA's web site.

Yalda, the last night of autumn and the beginning of winter, is observed in every Iranian family here or abroad with ethnic roots to Iran.

On Yalda night, which this year falls on December 21, members of the family stay together, narrate old stories told by ancestors, play traditional games and eat dried and fresh fruits symbolizing various things.
 

Pomegranates, placed on top of a fruit basket, are reminders of the cycle of life -- the rebirth and revival of generations. The purple outer covering of a pomegranate symbolizes "birth" or "dawn" and their bright red seeds the "glow of life."

Watermelons, apples, grapes, sweet melons and persimmon are other special fruits served on Yalda night and all are symbols of freshness, warmth, love, kindness and happiness.....

Your TOEFL test fee includes:

• 1 test taker's score report
• Up to 4 official score reports, which are sent by ETS directly to institutions or agencies that you select

How to Earn a Score

To earn a score on the TOEFL test, you must do all of the following:

• answer at least 1 question in the Reading section
• answer at least 1 question in the Listening section
• write at least 1 essay in the Writing section
• finish at least 1 task in the Speaking section

You will receive a score on each section and a total score for the entire test. You will also receive feedback on your performance and a description of tasks that test takers can do within the score range for each level.

The Summer Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, China from August 8 to August 24. Competitors from around the world will compete for the gold, silver or bronze medals. For some athletes, winning is not a real possibility. However, they will strive to set personal and / or national bests in their events. Of course, many world records will also be broken during these games. The intensely competitive nature of the games, the strong national pride involved and the challenge in facing the best athletes from around the world combine to demand the top performances from each individual. ..........

These are pages for people working in industries or organizations where it is often necessary to speak English. Many of these pages have quizzes for you to test your comprehension and audio for you to listen to sample conversations.

	English for Hotel Staff
	English for Airline Staff
	English for Food and Drink Staff
	English for Tour Guides
	English for Nurses and Medical Professionals
	English for Police

In most English-speaking countries, it is normal and necessary to make "small talk" in certain situations. Small talk is a casual form of conversation that "breaks the ice" or fills an awkward silence between people. Even though you may feel shy using your second language, it is sometimes considered rude to say nothing. Just as there are certain times when small talk is appropriate, there are also certain topics that people often discuss during these moments.

Read through the Who, What, Where, When, Why? page to gain a better understanding of small talk. The hardest part about making small talk is knowing how to start a conversation. Review the conversation starters and practise them with a friend. Finally, take the time to see how much you have learned about small talk by taking the Small Talk Quiz. And remember, in an English-speaking environment it is often better to make a few mistakes than to say nothing at all!

• Who, What, Where, When, Why?
• Conversation Starters
• Practice 1: At a Bus Stop
• Practice 2: At the Office
• Practice 3: At a Party

A "proverb" is a short, traditional saying in general use. It usually expresses some obvious truth or familiar experience. Here are some proverbs that are well known in English, though some of them come from other languages.

"The best things in life are free."

"A stitch in time saves nine."

"Still waters run deep."

"He teaches ill, who teaches all."

"You can't take it with you when you die."

"Better untaught than ill taught."

"Don't cross your bridges before you come to them."

"Soon learnt, soon forgotten."

"Even a worm will turn."

"It was the last straw that broke the camel's back."

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

"If the stone fall upon the egg, alas for the egg! If the egg fall upon the stone, alas for the egg!"

"Where there's a will there's a way."

"Marry in haste, and repent at leisure."

"One tongue is enough for a woman."

"If you wish good advice, consult an old man."

"The best advice is found on the pillow."

"All clouds bring not rain."

"You can't tell a book by its cover."

"Bad news travels fast."

"No news is good news."

"Live and let live."

"Birds of a feather flock together."

"Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are."

برای دیدن معنی به ادامه مطلب مراجعه کنید

Punctuation

Punctuation is the system of symbols (. , ! - : etc) that we use to separate sentences and parts of sentences, and to make their meaning clear. Each symbol is called a "punctuation mark".

Summary of Punctuation Marks

The Use of Large Letters (Capitals)

Each letter of the English alphabet may be written as a small letter (abc...) or as a large or capital letter (ABC...). Here is a full list of capital letters.

In English, we do not use capitals letters very much. We use them mainly for the first letter of sentences, names, days and months as well for some abbreviations. In addition, of course, we always write the first person pronoun as a capital I.

It is not usual to write whole sentences in capitals. A sentence or paragraph written in capitals is extremely difficult to read. Did you ever see a book or newspaper written completely in capitals? Of course not! We cannot easily read large amounts of text in capital letters. Lawyers know that capital letters are difficult to read. That is why some legal texts are written completely in capitals.

In this lesson we look at:

• When to Use Capital Letters
• Why Capital Letters are Difficult to Read
• Word Shape
• Test with Small Letters
• Test with Capital Letters

Telephone English

If the phone rings in English, don't be afraid to answer it! The fear of talking on the phone in a second language will disappear if you practise often. The hardest part about using the phone in a language that is not your own is the fact that you cannot see the other person's eyes, mouth and body movements (body language). Although you might not be aware of it, in face-to-face conversation you lip-read and watch for smiles, frowns and moving hands. Listening to someone on the telephone is like doing a section from a taped recording in class. The only difference is that you have to talk back!

In this lesson we look at some of the words and expressions that we use for telephoning. There are also some practice sessions and a quiz for you to check your understanding. And remember, practice makes perfect! Ring, ring...

1. Telephone Terms
2. Telephone Language
3. Telephone Tips
4. Practice 1: Making an Appointment
5. Practice 2: Taking a Message
6. Practice 3: Ordering a Pizza
7. Telephone Quiz

One of the most important skills anyone can hold in daily life is the ability to negotiate. In general terms, a negotiation is a resolution of conflict. We enter negotiations in order to start or continue a relationship and resolve an issue. Even before we accept our first jobs, or begin our careers, we all learn how to negotiate. For one person it begins with the negotiation of an allowance with a parent. For another it involves negotiating a television schedule with a sibling. Some people are naturally stronger negotiators, and are capable of getting their needs met more easily than others. Without the ability to negotiate, people break off relationships, quit jobs, or deliberately avoid conflict and uncomfortable situations.

In the world of business, negotiating skills are used for a variety of reasons, such as to negotiate a salary or a promotion, to secure a sale, or to form a new partnership. Here are a few examples of different types of negotiations in the business world:

• Manager and Clerk: Negotiating a promotion
• Employer and Potential Employee: Negotiating job benefits
• Business Partner A and B: Making decisions about investments
• Company A and Company B: Negotiating a merger
• Customer and Client: Making a Sale

The Art of Negotiating

Negotiating is often referred to as an "art". While some people may be naturally more skillful as negotiators, everyone can learn to negotiate. And, as they often say in business, everything is negotiable. Some techniques and skills that aid people in the negotiating process include:

• Aiming high
• Visualizing the end results
• Treating one's opponent with respect and honesty
• Preparing ahead of time
• Exhibiting confidence

Throughout this lesson, we will review important techniques and skills to learn before negotiating. We will also examine certain tactics your opponents may use at the negotiating table. These pages are designed to prepare you for for negotiating in English in the business world, but they will also help you achieve your goals in everyday life.

• Vocabulary
• Vocabulary Quiz
• Preparation
• Negotiation Process
• Settlement
• Test to Check Your Understanding

Whether you are holding a meeting or attending a meeting, it is imporant that you understand key English phrases and expressions related to meetings. A successful meeting has no surprises. With proper preparation and careful organization, a meeting can run smoothly. The most typical complaint about meetings is that they run too long. Meetings that run longer than necessary can be very costly to a company or business. As the famous business expression says: Time is money. Setting goals and time limits, keeping to the agenda, and knowing how to refocus, are key components of an effective meeting. This may sound simple in your own native language, but it is a little trickier when you or the participants do not speak fluent English. These pages will help you hold or attend a meeting with success. Review the vocabulary, read through the lessons, and then check your understanding.

Scenario The following pages will be based on the meeting of a fictional company called Paris Tours. The owner of the small tour company is Pierre. He has ten employees, including four supervisors, Kana and Thomas (guides), Nolan (driver), and Jane (receptionist). These four supervisors will be called to a meeting to discuss the upcoming tourist season. Follow through the pages to watch how Pierre prepares for and holds the meeting, and how his staff participate. Vocabulary Vocabulary Quiz Preparing for a Meeting Opening a Meeting Following the Agenda Closing a Meeting Self-Assessment Test

A short history of the origins and development of the English language

The history of the English language really started with the arrival of three Germanic tribes who invaded Britain during the 5th century AD. These tribes, the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, crossed the North Sea from what today is Denmark and northern Germany. At that time the inhabitants of Britain spoke a Celtic language. But most of the Celtic speakers were pushed west and north by the invaders—mainly into what is now Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The Angles came from Englaland and their language was called Englisc—from which the words England and English are derived.

Germanic invaders entered Britain on the east and south coasts in the 5th century.

Old English (450-1100 AD) The invading Germanic tribes spoke similar languages, which in Britain developed into what we now call Old English. Old English did not sound or look like English today. Native English speakers now would have great difficulty understanding Old English. Nevertheless, about half of the most commonly used words in Modern English have Old English roots. The words be, strong and water, for example, derive from Old English. Old English was spoken until around 1100.

Part of Beowulf, a poem written in Old English.

Middle English (1100-1500) In 1066 William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy (part of modern France), invaded and conquered England. The new conquerors (called the Normans) brought with them a kind of French, which became the language of the Royal Court, and the ruling and business classes. For a period there was a kind of linguistic class division, where the lower classes spoke English and the upper classes spoke French. In the 14th century English became dominant in Britain again, but with many French words added. This language is called Middle English. It was the language of the great poet Chaucer (c1340-1400), but it would still be difficult for native English speakers to understand today.

An example of Middle English by Chaucer.

Modern English

Early Modern English (1500-1800) Towards the end of Middle English, a sudden and distinct change in pronunciation (the Great Vowel Shift) started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. From the 16th century the British had contact with many peoples from around the world. This, and the Renaissance of Classical learning, meant that many new words and phrases entered the language. The invention of printing also meant that there was now a common language in print. Books became cheaper and more people learned to read. Printing also brought standardization to English. Spelling and grammar became fixed, and the dialect of London, where most publishing houses were, became the standard. In 1604 the first English dictionary was published.

Hamlet's famous "To be, or not to be" lines, written in Early Modern English by Shakespeare.

Late Modern English (1800-Present)

The main difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is vocabulary. Late Modern English has many more words, arising from two principal factors: firstly, the Industrial Revolution and technology created a need for new words; secondly, the British Empire at its height covered one quarter of the earth's surface, and the English language adopted foreign words from many countries.

Varieties of English

From around 1600, the English colonization of North America resulted in the creation of a distinct American variety of English. Some English pronunciations and words "froze" when they reached America. In some ways, American English is more like the English of Shakespeare than modern British English is. Some expressions that the British call "Americanisms" are in fact original British expressions that were preserved in the colonies while lost for a time in Britain (for example trash for rubbish, loan as a verb instead of lend, and fall for autumn; another example, frame-up, was re-imported into Britain through Hollywood gangster movies). Spanish also had an influence on American English (and subsequently British English), with words like canyon, ranch, stampede and vigilante being examples of Spanish words that entered English through the settlement of the American West. French words (through Louisiana) and West African words (through the slave trade) also influenced American English (and so, to an extent, British English).

Today, American English is particularly influential, due to the USA's dominance of cinema, television, popular music, trade and technology (including the Internet). But there are many other varieties of English around the world, including for example Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English, Indian English and Caribbean English.

The Germanic Family of Languages

English is a member of the Germanic family of languages.
Germanic is a branch of the Indo-European language family.

Here is a selection of sample business letters and other correspondence that you can copy and modify as you wish.

Letter Requesting Information
How to ask somebody to send you information.

Letter Sending Information
What to say when you send information.

Letter Changing Information
When a person or company changes important information, such as an address, price, or date, it is necessary to send valued customers a letter with the new information. This letter informs customers of a change in price.

Resume or CV
A resume (AmE) or CV (BrE) is usually requested by a prospective employer as a record of your qualifications and professional experience. CV stands for the Latin words "curriculum vitae", meaning "the course of one's life".

Covering Letter for Resume or CV
It is usual to send a covering letter (BrE) or cover letter (AmE) with your resume/CV when applying for a job.

Letter of Reference
Companies and other organizations often ask for a letter of reference. This is a character reference written by someone such as an ex-employer who knows the subject personally.

Letter of Resignation
Though it is not necessary to give a reason, it is standard business procedure to send written notice informing your employer that you are planning to quit your job.

Lay-off Notice
Companies and other organizations are usually required by law to present a written notice to employees informing them of a lay-off. This letter usually cites reasons for the lay-off, and acts as a formal apology. Employee rights may be included.

Letter of Invitation
It is often necessary in business to send an invitation to a person or group requesting their attendance at a special event.

Letter of Request for Payment
Sometimes it is necessary to remind customers that they owe you money!

Internal Memo or Memorandum
Memos are sometimes used internally to inform an entire company or department of something. This is an example of a memo referring to a staff Christmas party.

Welcome Email
It is a common business practice to welcome new staff members to a company. This is usually an informal note expressing best wishes and may contain contact information. Companies may also send welcome letters to other companies that move into a shared office building, or to visiting guest speakers and business travellers.

Business Correspondence Glossary
The letters above contain useful vocabulary you may want to use in your own business correspondence. If you decide to copy and modify any of these letters for your own personal use, make sure that you are choosing the correct words. This glossary offers simple definitions of the vocabulary used in these samples.

Business letters are formal paper communications between, to or from businesses and usually sent through the Post Office or sometimes by courier. Business letters are sometimes called "snail-mail" (in contrast to email which is faster). This lesson concentrates on business letters but also looks at other business correspondence. It includes:

• letter
• memo
• fax
• email

Who writes Business Letters?

Most people who have an occupation have to write business letters. Some write many letters each day and others only write a few letters over the course of a career. Business people also read letters on a daily basis. Letters are written from a person/group, known as the sender to a person/group, known in business as the recipient. Here are some examples of senders and recipients:

• business «» business
• business «» consumer
• job applicant «» company
• citizen «» government official
• employey «» employee
• staff member «» staff member

Why write Business Letters?

There are many reasons why you may need to write business letters or other correspondence:

• to persuade
• to inform
• to request
• to express thanks
• to remind
• to recommend
• to apologize
• to congratulate
• to reject a proposal or offer
• to introduce a person or policy
• to invite or welcome
• to follow up
• to formalize decisions

Read through the following pages to learn more about the different types of business letters, and how to write them. You will learn about formatting, planning, and writing letters, as well as how to spot your own errors. These pages are designed to help you write business letters and correspondence, but they will also help you learn to read, and therefore respond to, the letters you receive. You will also find samples that you can use and alter for your own needs.

• Vocabulary
• Vocabulary Quiz
• Letter Formats
• Planning
• Writing
• Proofreading
• Test to Check Your Understanding

	A figure is worth a thousand words
	(A picture is worth a thousand words)

We use figures of speech in "figurative language" to add colour and interest, and to awaken the imagination. Figurative language is everywhere, from classical works like Shakespeare or the Bible, to everyday speech, pop music and television commercials. It makes the reader or listener use their imagination and understand much more than the plain words.

Figurative language is the opposite of literal language. Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language means something different to (and usually more than) what it says on the surface:

• He ran fast. (literal)
• He ran like the wind. (figurative)

In the above example "like the wind" is a figure of speech (in this case, a simile). It is important to recognize the difference between literal and figurative language. There are many figures of speech that are commonly used and which you can learn by heart. At other times, writers and speakers may invent their own figures of speech. If you do not recognize them as figures of speech and think that they are literal, you will find it difficult to understand the language.

In this lesson we will look at four common types of figure of speech:

• Simile
• Metaphor
• Hyperbole
• Oxymoron

آموزش تصویر سازی ذهنی

قبل از اینکه در مورد تصویرسازی ذهنی سخنی بگوییم لازم است مختصری در باره دو نیمکره مغز نکاتی را متذکر شویم. نیمکره چپ وظیفه درک و حفظ مطلب را بعهده دارد . همچنین پایه منطق و استدلال با استفاده از حواس پنجگانه در نیمکره چپ ساخته می شود. حافظه کوتاه مدت در نیمکره چپ قرار دارد و با توجه به اینکه این نیمکره در اکثر افراد قویتر است شاید بتوان نتیجه گرفت که اکثر کسانی که با امر آموزش سروکار دارند از نیمکره چپ استفاده میکنند. نیمکره چپ با استفاده از منطق و استدلال قضاوت می کند و همین بزرگترین مشکل بر سر راه خلاقیت است. گاهی قضاوت باعث می شود که ما در مورد چیزی نتیجه گیری کنیم و درجا بزنیم.و این امر منجر به شکست و ناامیدی و تنبلی میشود.

             و اما نیمکره راست که در اکثر افراد ضعیف و غیر فعال است وظایفی از قبیل...

از کلاسهای مکالمه زبان بهره بیشتری ببریم

1- قبل از ورود به كلاس تكليفي را كه به عهده شماست به طور كامل انجام دهيد و مطلب جديد را كه قرار است تدريس شود به طور مختصر از نظر بگذرانيد تا آشنايي ذهني و آمادگي نسبي پيدا كنيد.

2- توانايي خود را با ديگران مقايسه نكنيد زيرا زبان خارجي حيطه هاي مختلفي دارد وهر شخص ممكن است در يك حيطه ضعيف و در حيطه ديگر تواناتر باشد.

3- در يادگيري زبان دوم(درست مثل يادگيري زبان اول) ممكن است شخص زودآغاز يا ديرآغاز باشد.بنابراين اگر فكر مي كنيد كه آنطور كه از خودتان انتظار داريد نمي توانيد صحبت كنيد خوتان را سرزنش نكنيد. تلاش كنيد با كمك و راهنمايي مدرس علت را ريشه يابي و كشف كنيد و پشتكار را ازدست ندهيد. بايد بدانيد كه ياد گيري زبان داراي دو مرحلهreception) (  گيرندگي يا دريافت و

) production ( توليد است.اگر مرحله دريافت اشكال داشته باشد ............................

by Callum Robertson with Richard Acklam

A 44 page illustrated book on the subject of English Language Teaching. The book covers the topics of planning and preparing lessons, teaching methodology and classroom practice, using technology in the classroom, and also has ideas for and examples of practical activities for different stages of the lesson.

Download Action Plan for Teachers. 420k

 
by David Graddol

English Next was commissioned by the British Council and written by researcher David Graddol – a British applied linguist, well known as a writer, broadcaster, researcher and consultant on issues relating to global English.

The new report argues that we are already in a very new kind of environment and a new phase in the global development of English. What are the new rules and who will be the winners and who will be the losers? In this new study David Graddol suggests some of the answers by analysing demographic and economic trends in the Twenty First-Century which affect Global English and language policies worldwide and will influence its future.

Download the book in PDF format

If you get a good English dictionary, you will be better than 90% of English learners. It's unbelievable, but most people (even people who want to learn English very much) simply go to a bookstore and buy the first dictionary they see.

That is a big mistake! A bad dictionary will give you problems sooner or later — maybe in two months, maybe in one year — and you will have to buy a good one anyway! Isn't it better to buy a good dictionary the first time?

Getting a good English dictionary is important because:

• A good dictionary will be your guide to English. It will teach you new words, how to pronounce them, and how to use them. It will help you understand English texts. Successful English learners use their dictionaries all the time: when reading books, at English classes, when writing e-mail, when doing homework, when surfing the Web.
• It is an easy first step in your English-learning program — you only need to spend a little money (much less than you would pay for an English course). Once you've made the first step, it will be easier for you to do the rest.
• It requires spending money. Yes, this is a good thing. :-) Spending some of your money on learning English will give you an impulse to keep learning and work towards your goal of mastering English

دانلود با حجم 412 کیلوبایت