Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Antonyms and Synonyms

Antonyms


1. take

2. red

3. empty

4. dirty

5. cool

6. tasteless

7. raw

8. sour

9. asleep

10. late



1. on purpose

2. common

3. stay

4. fail

5. many

6. none

7. war

8. stressed

9. reward

10. dry



1. together

2. absent

3. child

4. minimum

5. true

6. hopeless

7. modest

8. educated

9. complicated

10. innocent



Synonyms


1. person

2. animal

3. delicious

4. angry

5. jump

6. triumph

7. run

8. challenging

9. sightless

10. ghost



1. stone

2. river

3. weird

4. rich

5. serpent

6. hazard

7. chance

8. sight

9. power

10. night




1. country

2. educator

3. recall

4. two times

5. journey

6. narrow

7. soil

8. actual

9. past

10. lovely

Monday, December 15, 2025

IELTS Writing task 1 feedback

Improve these examples

 

1. The table provides information about most enjoyed sports by Americans from 1937 to 2008.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

2. One of the most popular one overtime is football, while baseball marked at the top in the first 40 years.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

3. The number of the rate in football has rose gradually 23% in 1937 to 41% in 2008.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

4. Overall, while football has been rose gradually overtime, the others have become less popular or remained flat at the low number in general.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Basketball, Auto racing and ice skating they are quite similar for each other because their started with low scores, but they rose gradually until the end their will slightly decrease.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

6. It became the most enjoyed sport in 1972 that passed baseball, which met gradually fell from 14% to 10% during the seven decades.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Illustrates

Currently

Whereas

Whose

over

all

Ranked

Steadily

Either

after

as

rose

among


  1. Improved:
    The table _________ the most popular sports _______ Americans between 1937 and 2008.

  1. Improved:
    Football is ________ one of the most popular sports, ________ baseball ________ first during the first four decades.

  1. Improved:
    The percentage of people who preferred football ________ gradually from 23% in 1937 to 41% in 2008.

  1. Improved:
    Overall, while the popularity of football increased _______ over time, the other sports ______ declined or remained at relatively low levels.

  1. Improved:
    Basketball, auto racing, and ice skating followed similar trends, ________ they ________ started with low percentages, increased gradually, and then showed a slight decline toward the end of the period.

  1. Improved:
    Football became the most popular sport in 1972 ________ overtaking baseball, _______ popularity gradually fell from 14% to 10% _______ the seven decades.

 


Sunday, December 14, 2025

Learning Styles

Image result for 7 learning styles

Match the questions to the learning style, then discuss the questions.

 

1. Do you learn better quietly on your own, or by working with others? Do you like boolks and libraries?

2. Do you learn better by physically doing something in the real world? Are you sporty?

3. Do you learn through conversation? Do you love speaking with others?

4. Do you learn by listening? Perhaps by listening to interesting podcasts or lectures?

5. Do you enjoy puzzles and challenging mental games like chess? Do you enjoy solving mathematical problems?

6. Do you learn by seeing things? Do you love art, colours and patterns? Pictures? Diagrams?

7. Are you a socially smart person – are you good at arranging parties and dinners?



How do these words relate to the topic of education?











minor












to play up














cram











a dunce














drop out













field











to sit in on















head













middle of the pack












assessment











Grammar: 










Can you draw these?






a colon
a semi colon
an inverted comma
ellipsis
a dash
a hyphen
parentheses
italics
roman
a comma
an apostrophe
quotation marks







OK - what is each one for?








Linkers





Can you think of a synonym or similar phrases for each of these linkers / sentence adverbials? Try to find the closet one you can...














Even so














Ideally














Not only that













Mind you













Obviously









Linkers and Sentence adverbials













Surprisingly












In other words













For illustrative purposes















Finally













As a rule











Moreover












Then again












In addition












Thus










For all that











All in all












Incidentally












Unfortunately












Curiously











Apparently











Naturally











Admittedly












Similarly











Thankfully
















As you can imagine












As luck would have it












Strange as it may seem










Besides









In fact









In theory










Meanwhile










On the contrary











All the same










In retrospect









Likewise










What's more









In writing... 













What is "cohesion"?












What is "range"?












What is "clarity"?











What is "development"?











What is "effectiveness"?











What is "task achievement"?












What is "accuracy"?












What is appropriacy?












What is "awareness of audience"?











What is "style"?






















More education vocab:









prerequisite













syllabus










teacher-centred










Task-based learning











form










extra-cirricular










Cirricculm









A-levels








swat








HOD









enrol











humanities











Honours












freshman











post-doctoral











credits











learning styles
















EQ










ADHD




What A Wonderful World sung by Sam Cooke

story

logy

if x 2
would x 2

bra

A

By

win

metry

two

ience

ench

do


 

Don't know much about hi______

Don't know much bio_____

Don't know much about a sc_____ book

Don't know much about the Fr____ I took

 

But I ___ know that I love you

and I know that ____ you love me too

what a wonderful world this ______ be

 

Don't know much about geo_______

Don't know much trigono_______

Don't know much about alge____

Don't know what a slide rule is for

 

But I do know one and one is _____

and ____ this one could be with you

what a wonderful world this ______ be

 

Now, I don't claim to be an ____ student,

but I'm trying to be

For maybe _____ being an A student, baby,

I could _____ your love to me

What A Wonderful World sung by Sam Cooke

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

IELTS - talking about shopping (part 2)

 

·  Shopping centre – a large building with many shops.

·  Modern – new and up-to-date in style.

·  Energy – a lively or busy feeling in a place.

·  Popular – liked by many people.

·  Comfortable – pleasant and easy to be in.

·  Good-quality – well-made; something that lasts.

·  Stationery – things like pens, notebooks, and paper.

·  Relaxed atmosphere – a calm, pleasant feeling in a place.

·  Convenient – easy to use or easy to get to.

·  Enjoyable – fun or pleasant.

 

 

One of my favourite places to go shopping is 277 Newmarket in Auckland. It is part of Westfield Newmarket, a big and modern shopping centre. ____ you walk inside, it feels bright, busy, and full of energy. There are many shops, cafés, and places to relax, ____ it is easy to spend a long time there.

It is on Broadway in Newmarket, ____ is a popular shopping area in the city. It’s easy to get to by bus, train, or car, ____ the area feels safe and friendly. The shopping centre is clean and well-designed, ____ it is comfortable to walk around.

____ a 54-year-old teacher, I can find many things I need. I often look for good-quality clothes for work—something smart but comfortable for long days in the classroom. I also enjoy visiting bookstores and stationery shops ____ I like buying new notebooks, pens, or small things I can use for my lessons. ____ I stop for a coffee or a snack when I want a short break.

I like 277 Newmarket because it has everything in one place. It is convenient, it has a relaxed atmosphere, ____ I can find both practical things and little treats for myself. It makes shopping easy and enjoyable, ____ it is one of my favourite places to go.

 

 

 

One of my FAVOURITE places to go SHOPPING is 277 NEWMARKET in AUCKLAND. It is part of WESTFIELD NEWMARKET, a BIG and MODERN shopping CENTRE. When you walk INSIDE, it feels BRIGHT, BUSY, and full of ENERGY. There are many SHOPS, CAFÉS, and places to RELAX, so it is EASY to spend a LONG time there.

It is on BROADWAY in Newmarket, which is a POPULAR shopping AREA in the CITY. It’s EASY to get to by BUS, TRAIN, or CAR, and the area feels SAFE and FRIENDLY. The shopping centre is CLEAN and well-DESIGNED, so it is COMFORTABLE to walk AROUND.

As a 54-YEAR-OLD TEACHER, I can find many THINGS I NEED. I often look for GOOD-QUALITY CLOTHES for WORK—something SMART but COMFORTABLE for LONG days in the CLASSROOM. I also enjoy visiting BOOKSTORES and STATIONERY shops because I like buying new NOTEBOOKS, PENS, or small THINGS I can use for my LESSONS. And sometimes I stop for a COFFEE or a SNACK when I want a SHORT break.

I like 277 NEWMARKET because it has EVERYTHING in one PLACE. It is CONVENIENT, it has a RELAXED atmosphere, and I can find both PRACTICAL things and little TREATS for MYSELF. It makes SHOPPING EASY and ENJOYABLE, and that is why it is one of my FAVOURITE places to GO.

Sunday, December 7, 2025

The Passive, Modals of deduction and reporting structures





Intermediate level practice (Passive) (Modals of deduction)

Intermediate level practice (reported speech)


Great conversation questions to practice using the passive with a partner or a group

Great situations to discuss using could. might and must


Practice using reporting structures


Practice more reporting structures



Look for examples of passive voice in this article:




Brazilian woman denied visa after movie muddle-up


A woman with a backpack pulls a suitcase through an airport.

were allowed in         were denied          was sent back      were most often denied

was dropped off         those turned away     raised       were sent back             it was found 

 

More than 4300 people _____1______entry to New Zealand according to Immigration New Zealand's annual report.

It contains detailed reasons for some of the refusals.

A man with a South African passport ______2_______ in Taiwan due to identity concerns ______3______ when his profile on a popular dating website stated he was a New Zealander seeking "a nice girl to have serious relationship".

Officials decided a woman from Brazil was not a genuine visitor because she had no outward ticket and had little knowledge of New Zealand.

She said she wanted to see Lord of the Rings locations, referencing Harry Potter as the main character of the film.

A man who was travelling from Canada ______4______ after _____5______an English court found him guilty of being part of a scam of US government bonds amounting to $2.5 trillion.

Malaysians and Hong Kong nationals ______6________ entry, with Brazil and Taiwan also having high rejection numbers.

Three quarters of  ______7______ did not even get as far as boarding at their point of departure; the rest ________8_________ once they arrived.

Nearly six million people________9_______ , an increase of nine percent on the previous year.

How would you express the phrases in bold with less formality?


Mistakes

 I hate tomato


Just watch this festival. I don't want to join this festival.


Maybe interesting story. Last year, end of the year. 


I need back my home town


I can see first sunrise in this year


This year my new year is travel in New Zealand


Very big - just make the sky always light


We thought is this fire work?


This one is the first one I will recommend to you.


Mostly celebrating for our good health.


You also can drink


I recommend you to try.


When I was a child I think the smell of fire crackers. I like it.


But now we can't use fire crackers in the city - maybe just the countryside.


I want to go to there.


New year give her money in a red packet.


We ususally give small amount of money for kids.


In China, if you didn't married or you didn't get a job, you get money, Even you over thrity.


The different lanterns represent different colours.


Only good things is I can get money from my parents.


Many people travelling during these days, so my city is crowd.


Just only have special food.


They need to do back to work when holidays finish?


In Japan longest holiday is in May.


I'm not a Chinese family.


You cannot enjoy authemtic Japanse style in Osaka.


There have also huge Chinese community in there.


Everyoine want it, but it hard to find.


Do you know why Osaka is famous for Chinese people?


Thre is a also ferry betwen Shanghai and Osaka.


Just two-hour - Shanghai to Osaka. The flight.



Blossom

Bloom

Petals

Peak Bloom

Hanami

Festival Grounds

Scenic

Tradition

Vibrant

Seasonal

Canopy

Arbor

Sakura (桜)

Tranquil

Reverence

Picnic

Lanterns

Breathtaking

Procession

Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lantern

Illumination

Night

Glow

Celebration

Tradition

Festivities

Fireworks

Procession

Symbolism

Prosperity

Reunion

Riddles

Customs

Rituals

Vibrant

Decorative

Handmade

Ceremonial

Harmony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Songkran

Splash

Soak

Water guns

Buckets

Celebration

Tradition

Parade

Blessing

Renewal

Merit-making

Temple

Festivalgoers

Street stalls

Refreshing

Cool down

Festive

Community

Lively

Joyful


Saturday, December 6, 2025

Then and Now - comparison




Image result for older stallone hanging out with himself


Famous person 


Younger

Body shape:
Hair colour:
Hair length:
Eye colour:
Height: tall / average / short
Skin colour, condition,
Style of dress:
General appearance:
Attitude expression:


Older

Body shape:
Hair colour:
Hair length:
Eye colour:
Height: tall / average / short
Skin colour, condition,
Style of dress:
General appearance:
Attitude expression:



Describe the "two" celebrities to your partner as younger and older. Can they guess who?