What do you hate about men?

Here's a bit of fun from the British Council in Italy. Check out this little thing on the Rome Metrozine!

Beetles in your chocolate

It makes you wonder. It really does...

Veggies beware!

Cambridge esol site

Lots of useful information and material on the University of Cambridge esol Examinations site. Among other things, you can find copies of the handbooks, including specimen papers.

FCE Downloads, click here.

CPE downloads, click here.

FCE and CPE

Speaking Test Dates

The dates for the speaking tests will be as follows (in the case of PET and FCE the date will depend on the candidate number):

Porto (including Gaia) – British Council Porto

FCE - 27 May (am), 03 June (am) and 07 June (am)
CAE - 17 June morning
CPE - 17 June afternoon

Grammars and things

One or two proficiency students have asked about extra practice for grammar or vocabulary work. Here are some recommendations.

Advanced grammars:
Advanced Grammar in Use - Martin Hewings (CUP)
Advanced Language Practice - Michael Vince (Macmillan)

A very good reference is:
Practical English Usage - Michael Swan (OUP)

Vocabulary:
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced - McCarthy & O'Dell (CUP)

Feel free to post other books here that you have used and found useful.

Mark

AC2 Homework.

These questions are intended for AC2.1 students. However, anyone in AC2.2-19W is welcome to one of these as an extra writing.

Write an answer to one of these questions. Write your answer in 300-350 words.

1. An international student magazine is running a competition for readers to write an article entitled, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. You decide to enter the competition. Write your article, including information about how your views are reflected in your local culture.

Write your article.

2. You have recently read a piece of news in a major international news magazine about something which absolutely incensed you. Write a letter to the news magazine expressing your outrage and anger, and explaining your feelings.

Write your letter.

3. You have been asked to contribute to a new government initiative to improve the education system by proposing changes to your school or college. Write a proposal detailing some of the changes you would make, giving your reasons, and explaining how your changes would be an improvement.

Write your proposal.

Damn Cool Pics

Seven Wonders of the World on Damn Cool Pics.

I haven't explored the whole of this blog, but I was amused by one set of photos, 'Fake Chinese Brands', and even more by a comment someone left:
How do you know that all of them are Chinese Brands? Have you been to China and take these photos?How idiot you are.
;) Mark

British vs American English

As all Cambridge exam candidates should know, you are allowed to use 'non-uk standard versions of English' (eg American English, which I'm often asked about) as long as you are consistent throughout the exam. (Cambridge university ESOL Website). Here are a couple of links to look at which compare the usage of British and American English.

http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blbritam.htm

Wikipedia

How come nobody asks about South African English? There are a lot of South African Portuguese around. Any Australian English speakers?