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"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life: for there is in London all that life can afford" (Samuel Johnson, 1777)

The First 100 Most Commonly Used English Words

The First Hundred

1. the
2. of
3. and
4. a
5. to
6. in
7. is
8. you
9. that
10. it
11. he
12. was
13. for
14. on
15. are
16. as
17. with
18. his
19. they
20. I

21. at
22. be
23. this
24. have
25. from
26. or
27. one
28. had
29. by
30. word
31. but
32. not
33. what
34. all
35. were
36. we
37. when
38. your
39. can
40. said

41. there
42. use
43. an
44. each
45. which
46. she
47. do
48. how
49. their
50. if
51. will
52. up
53. other
54. about
55. out
56. many
57. then
58. them
59. these
60. so

61. some
62. her
63. would
64. make
65. like
66. him
67. into
68. time
69. has
70. look
71. two
72. more
73. write
74. go
75. see
76. number
77. no
78. way
79. could
80. people

81. my
82. than
83. first
84. water
85. been
86. call
87. who
88. oil
89. its
90. now
91. find
92. long
93. down
94. day
95. did
96. get
97. come
98. made
99. may
100. part

www.duboislc.org/EducationWatch/First100Words.html

10 porad dla uczących się języka angielskiego

1. Uwierz w siebie: pięć procent ludzi ma wybitne zdolności językowe; pięć procent to antytalenty; reszta to osoby przeciętne, które są w stanie nauczyć się dowolnej liczby języków. Dotyczy to ludzi w wieku od lat siedmiu do osiemdziesięciu lub więcej (opinia, że tylko jako dziecko można dobrze nauczyć się języka to szkodliwy przesąd). Jeżeli z góry powiesz sobie "język to nie dla mnie", na wstępie blokujesz się psychicznie.

2. Pracuj systematycznie - lepiej uczyć się codziennie po 20 minut niż raz w tygodniu przez cztery godziny. Język jest jak gimnastyka lub prowadzenie auta: postęp jest wynikiem ćwiczeń. Jeśli nie stać Cię choćby na 20 minut codziennie, nie zaczynaj. Nie warto się oszukiwać.

3. Ucz się na pamięć - mogą to być słówka zapisywane na osobnych kartkach, całe zdania, wierszyki, dialogi, powiedzenia cytaty, krótsze i dłuższe teksty. W ten sposób magazynujesz w umyśle gotowe kawałki układanki, które po jakim czasie złożą się w całość - szybciej niż mylisz.

4. Ucz się przez naśladownictwo - warto powięcać czas i wysiłek na odtwarzanie: powtarzanie za kasetą, odgrywanie gotowych dialogów, przepisywanie całych zdań i tekstów. W ten sposób rozciągasz sobie pamięć językową i "wklepujesz" do umysłu gramatykę praktyczną.

5. Nie przejmuj się zanadto wymową - zwłaszcza, jeśli nie masz zdolności w tym kierunku. Od wymowy ważniejsze jest słownictwo. Większość ludzi nawet dobrze znających język obcy mówi z wyraźnym cudzoziemskim akcentem, co nikomu nie przeszkadza, a czasem pomaga - cudzoziemcowi wybacza się pomyłki i niezręczności.

6. Przy każdej okazji staraj się mówić uruchamiając wyuczone kawałki języka. Przy mówieniu eksperymenty z językiem są jak najbardziej wskazane. Stosuj "mówienie wirtualne"- wyobraź sobie, co powiedziałbyś w różnych sytuacjach. Jeśli masz okazję, nawiąż korespondencję w obcym języku.

7. Nie przejmuj się popełnianymi błędami - większość z nich sama znika w miarę, jak robisz postępy.

8. Jak najwięcej czytaj - im lepiej znasz język, tym większa rola słowa pisanego. Do płynnego mówienia wystarczy ok. 1500 słów - do czytania książek lub prasy nie mniej niż 4500.

9. Po opanowaniu podstaw języka spróbuj retranslacji: najpierw tłumaczysz na polski kilka zdań z języka obcego, a po dwu - trzech dniach swoje tłumaczenie z powrotem przekładasz na język obcy. Sprawdzasz swoje tłumaczenie z oryginałem i poprawiasz błędy. Po kilku miesiącach codziennego wykonywania takich ćwiczeń zauważysz, jak dużego postępu dokonałeś.

10. Nie zniechęcaj się, jeśli wydaje ci się, że drepczesz w miejscu - od poziomu średnio zaawansowanego postęp dokonuje się skokami. Pracuj systematycznie- spokojnie czekając, aż czas zrobi swoje.

autor: dr Henryk Krzyżanowski
www.myenglish.pl

P31 TASK 2

I think people that have a brother or sister don't realize how lucky they are. Sure, they fight a lot, but to know that there's always somebody there, somebody that's family.

(Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park)

A large family with a lot of children is happier and healthier than a family with an only child. Do you agree? Do you have brothers or sisters or are you your parents' only child?

P81 TASK 2

Children have neither past nor future. They live in the present, something which rarely happens to us. (Jean De La Bruyere)

but on the other hand...

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. (Frank Lloyd Wright)

Childhood, adolescence or adulthood? Which of the stages in life seems to you the most interesting, attractive and offering the most? Why?

P71 TASK 2

happy = joyful, delighted, overjoyed, thrilled, pleased, content, contented, glad, euphoric, cheerful, gay, smiling, in good spirits, in high spirits, merry, light-hearted, over the moon, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven, carefree, untroubled, unworried...

This time my question is very simple, WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? WHAT CHEERS YOU UP WHEN YOU'RE SAD AND GIVES YOU ENERGY WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND TIRED? I'm sure there are a lot of such things that you didn't even realize.. :-)

Twist Your Tongue with a Tongue Twister!

Try nice tongue twisters that are perfect for practicing difficult sounds. Read them a couple of times until you can recite them fluently or learn them by heart. I bet it's much easier than "chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie w Szczebrzeszynie.." ;-)

For a start a very short one..

Sheena leads, Sheila needs.

Try to read it once again, but this time faster. Prepare for a more difficult part:

Denise sees the fleece, Denise sees the fleas. At least Denise could sneeze and feed and freeze the fleas.

I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?

Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew. While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew. Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze. Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze. That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.

Sing me soothing songs...

Since St. Valentine's Day is celebrated soon and it is popular also in Poland, I put a song that seems to be verrry romantic :-) (not to mention the fact that it is quite useful because it uses the second conditional = "Gdybym była ...", which tells you about something that is impossible or almost impossible. Surely, the author of the words is a dreamer.. ) I wonder how many of you understand the words of the song and are able to (=can) translate it or explain it.. Do you like the song?

"If You Were A Sailboat" Katie Melua

If you were a cowboy, I would trail you,
If you were a piece of wood, I'd nail you to the floor.
If you were a sailboat, I would sail you to the shore.
If you were a river, I would swim you,
If you were a house, I would live in you all my days.
If you were a preacher, I'd begin to change my ways.

Sometimes I believe in fate,
But the chances we create,
Always seem to ring more true.
You took a chance on loving me,
I took a chance on loving you.

If I was in jail, I know you'd spring me
If I was a telephone, you'd ring me all day long
If was in pain, I know you'd sing me soothing songs.

Sometimes I believe in fate,
But the chances we create,
Always seem to ring more true.
You took a chance on loving me,
I took a chance on loving you.

If I was hungry, you would feed me
If I was in darkness, you would lead me to the light
If I was a book, I know you'd read me every night

If you were a cowboy, I would trail you,
If you were a piece of wood, I'd nail you to the floor.
If you were a sailboat, I would sail you to the shore.
If you were a sailboat, I would sail you to the shore.

:-)

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

P31 TASK1

Hello, for a start I want you to think about boredom (nuda). What activities (czynności) do you consider (uważać) boring (nudny) and waste of time (strata czasu) doing? Do you remember when you were extremely bored (znudzony/a)? What did you do? And what do you usually do when you are bored?
I think there are a lot of activities you can do in your free time, for example reading a book, playing a game, going for a walk, meeting with a friend, joining a club (depends on what interests you have) or searching on the Internet... Try www.bored.com ! :-)

P81 TASK1

Hi, and here you have our first topic to discuss. As we talked about films and different types of films a bit last term, I want you to think the subject over once again. The question is what film you consider the best, the most interesting, the one that you would willingly watch again and what film you definitely disliked and wouldn't recommend and why. And finally, what types of films you like in general (historical films, thrillers, romantic films?).
I'm also interested in what film you would make and what actors you would employ if you were a film director... Do you think that it's easy to make a good film and earn a lot of money on it?
Looking forward to your answers and comments :-)

P71 TASK 1

Hi, here you have your first task, which is rather a form of revision and one of the oral exam topics that was not popular among you.. It reads, IF I ASKED YOU FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ME? OR DO YOU THINK THAT SUCCESS DEPENDS SOLELY ON LUCK?
If you asked me, I'd probably tell you that the best and definitely secure way to achieve success is to work hard and not give up easily should any obstacles (difficulties, problems) come. Nevertheless, I know people who depend only on luck and, strangely, they very often succeed. But you should be a lucky chap to do that, and if you're not, you'd better stick to the rules and keep working!
And what do YOU think? Do you agree or disagree with my point of view? Is there anything you can add?

P31 Welcome!

Hello group P31,
I'm happy that I can present my blog to you. In February we start term 3. Last term we talked about past experiences (past simple) and present actions (present simple, present continuous). This term, besides working all the time with the tenses (czasy) that you know, you are going to learn how to express (wyrazić) the future. You will also learn how to make predictions (przepowiednie) or give advice (rada). I hope you will like the blog and give your comments :-),
Enjoy!

Group P81 Welcome!

Hello group P81,
I'm glad you decided to check the site and I hope you'll be willing to do all the tasks I'm going to give you. Since you all got a credit (passed the exams), now you start term 8. It means a load of (a large number of) words and phrases that express possibility both in the present and in the past or that recommend doing something. You're also going to get to know more relative clauses and a new tense- Past Perfect Continuous. Moreover, you'll learn how to describe the actions that somebody else did for you (e.g. I've had my car repaired). However, during the whole term we will be revising all the tenses that you should already know so that this time you won't have problems when using them while speaking :-). Feel free to take part in our discussions and write your comments; the first task starts in February,
See you!

P71 Welcome!

Hello group P71,
I'm happy that you visited my site (actually you didn't have choice ;P).. And I hope that you will like it and take part in it. This term we're going to explore some grammar (my favourite part!), which at some points will be just a kind of revision for you, so don't be disheartened. What's more, we're going to learn vocabulary connected with illnesses or crime, and talk about embarrassing (that made you blush) situations :-) This term you aren't obliged to (you don't have to) read a book and make a presentation in class. Now your challenge is here. The first task starts in February,
Enjoy!