Learning languages !

One language sets you in a corridor for life.

Two languages open every door along the way.

Frank Smith

The smell of new books

New school year !!! New teaching moto !!!

Fall down seven times , stand up eight !!!

Exactly !

One of my main teaching priorities for this year 

will be raising my students' self-confidence !

My moto will be "Yes , you can !"

They will be loved and cherished.

They will be encouraged and praised.

They will be often reminded of their learning 

achievements and successes.

This is going to be an awesome school year !

Past Simple or Past Continuous ?

Past Simple or Past Continuous ?

Theory 

Let's practice now !!

http://www.montsemorales.com/gramatica/PastSimpContSw2-6.htm

http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/pastsimpleorcontinuous/exercise1.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/pastsimpleorcontinuous/exercise4.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/pastcontinuous/exercise2.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/pastsimpleorcontinuous/exercise3.swf

http://baladre.info/english/sedaviwebfront/pastsimpcont7.htm

http://www.ihbristol.com/free-english-exercises/test/esol-smc-past-simple-past-continuous

http://www.english-4u.de/past_prog_ex1.htm

http://exploringenglish.cappelendamm.no/c319642/oppgavesamling_flervalg/vis.html?tid=386323&strukt_tid=319642

http://www.montsemorales.com/gramatica/PastSimpContSw2-6-2.htm

Well done !!!

Happiness !!!

Expressions of happiness !!!

Here are some useful idiomatic expressions for expressing happiness.

♦ over the moon

To be over the moon about something is to be very happy about something: so happy and excited that you imagine you could jump or fly over the moon!

♦ on cloud nine

If you are on cloud nine you are extremely happy.

♦ in seventh heaven

To be in seventh heaven is also to be extremely happy, or in a state of bliss. In Islamic and Jewish faith there are seven heavens: the seventh is the dwelling place of God and the angels.

♦ on top of the world

If you are on top of the world you are enjoying great happiness, health or success.

♦ jump for joy

To jump for joy is to feel very happy about something: so happy that you could jump up and down for joy, or you are actually jumping up and down for joy!

♦ walking on air

If you are walking on air you are extremely happy and full of joy: so happy that you feel like you are floating on air.

On the phone

On the phone

Verbs :

To make a phone call

To answer a phone call

To call back

To dial up

To hung up

To be cut off

Making contact :    

Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon ...

This is John Brown speaking

Could I speak to ......... please?

I'd like to speak to ..... .....

I'm trying to contact ..........

Taking a call :

X speaking.

Can I help you?

Asking for a name / information :  

Who's calling please?

Who's speaking?

Where are you calling from?

Are you sure you have the right number / name?

Asking for someone

Could I speak to John Martin, please?

I’d like to speak to John Martin, please.

Could you put me through to John Martin, please?

Could I speak to someone who …

Asking the caller to wait :    

Hold the line please.

Could you hold on please?

Just a moment please.

Connecting :   

Thank you for holding.

The line's free now ... I'll put you through.

I'll connect you now  / I'm connecting you now.

Giving negative information :  

I'm afraid the line's engaged. Could you call back later?

I'm afraid he's in a meeting at the moment.

I'm sorry. He's out of the office today. /

He isn't in at the moment.

I'm afraid we don't have a Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss. ... here

I'm sorry.  There's nobody here by that name.

Sorry.  I think you've dialled the wrong number./

I am sorry ! I think you’ve got the wrong number.

I'm afraid you've got the wrong number.

I can’t hear you very well.

Mobile phone problems

My battery is about to run out

I am about to run out of credits

I need to charge up my mobile phone

I can’t get a signal

I have got a very weak signal

Telephone problems :

The line is very bad ...  Could you speak up please?

Could you repeat that please?

I'm afraid I can't hear you.

Sorry. I didn't catch that.  Could you say it again please?

Leaving a message :

Can I leave / take a message?

Would you like to leave a message?

Could you give him/her a message?

Could you ask him/her to call me back?

Could you tell him/her that I called?

Could you give me your name please?

Could you spell that please?

What's your number please?

Expressions with heart !

Break someone's heart

Definition: hurt someone, usually romantically, or to cause some great disappointment

Eat your heart out

Definition: to be jealous or envious of someone else

Follow your heart

Definition: Do what you believe is right

From the bottom of my heart

Definition: Usually used in the first person, this phrase means that you are completely sincere

Get at the heart of the matter

Definition: Discuss the main issue, concern

Have a change of heart

Definition: Change one's mind

Have a heart of gold

Definition: Be very trustworthy and well meaning

Have a heart of stone

Definition: Be cold, unforgiving

Have a heart-to-heart talk

Definition: Have an open and honest discussion with someone

Have your heart in the right place / One's heart in the right place

Definition: To mean well, have the right intentions

Know something by heart / learn something by heart

Definition: Know something such as lines in a play, or music perfectly, to be able to perform something by memory

Have one's heart set on something / set against something

Definition: Absolutely want something / Absolutely not want something

One's heart misses a beat / One's heart skips a beat

Definition: To be completely surprised by something