Forum Replies Created

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  • Kerin

    Administrator
    June 15, 2020 at 10:16 am in reply to: British vs American English

    Morning Sonia! Thank you for your thoughts about this topic, it’s interesting to learn about everyone’s experiences and I enjoy your storytelling and use of vocabulary – nice!

    Actually some of the words and expressions you are using are TOP! (scads of Rookie mistakes, coarse, stems from, refute … TOP TOP TOP!)

    Some notes:

    > Except for a few private lessons taken by an Italian lady … this sounds like the Italian lady did the lessons as the student. So you took the lessons, she gave them:

    Except for a few private lessons from an Italian lady OR Except for a few private lessons taught by an Italian lady

    I want to give you some pointers to make things sound even more natural:

    > I feel British English more familiar, – British English feels more familiar to me

    > I think that a whole life would not be enough – I think that a whole lifetime would not be enough


    Please correct:

    At school I have always studied French!

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    June 10, 2020 at 3:11 pm in reply to: How we perceive accents

    @Carly Spot on! I find we are very much on the same page on this topic! Interestingly, a row has broken out on this topic between two teachers who both have a Youtube channel. I’ll try and find the link as it makes for interesting viewing…. One of them attacks the other because she is always banging on about RP … it’s quite amusing, even if I felt rather sorry for the one being attacked!

    Anyway, I liked your description about a young you getting in trouble from your teacher! Makes me think of my French class! And am positively giddy that someone is appreciative of the rolling RRRRRRs!!!!

    Quick note:

    you need a preposition here: I have never been discriminated against

    English, French, Spanish etc needs a capital letter

    👍🌸

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    June 10, 2020 at 2:57 pm in reply to: Technolgy

    We are on the same page Chiara, the issue is so complex. Beautifully expressed 👍

    It makes me think of the app in the UK that they were trying to get people to use for covid – in theory it is a good idea, but in the wrong hands, could be a disaster…. Personally I too hate the idea that people can snap our picture and potentially find out about us. I find it creepy beyond words!

    Just a few notes for you:

    – a comma here (after used) would help this flow much neater: from who and for which purpose it is used, might be dangerous.

    From the other hand > On the other hand

    anaware > unaware

    Again, the problem is that we need more transparency on how technology works and on in which hands is the control of it. > … better like this (few options):

    and in which hands has the control of it.

    and in whose hands the power lies.

    and who has control over it


  • Kerin

    Administrator
    June 9, 2020 at 12:46 pm in reply to: Vocabulary practice

    Wonderful examples Chiara. Excellent work.

    If you move the position of still in the first phrase it adds more emphasis: I still can’t figure out how all this mess got started.

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    June 8, 2020 at 9:20 am in reply to: The pleasure of sadness

    Good morning @sonim 🤗

    Well done. If you add ‘around’ to make it a phrasal verb, I’ll give you 100 points 😂

    I’m used to runNING around all the time …

    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/run-around

    Have a lovely Monday xxx

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    June 2, 2020 at 9:12 am in reply to: The pleasure of sadness

    Morning @sonim,

    This piece of writing is lovely. You raise some interesting points and your descriptive writing is moving. You’ve used some excellent vocabulary and managed to talk about a complex issue fluently in English. Excellent, really!

    Notes;

    > when we talk about an artist’s work, we don’t need the article ‘the’:

    NOT – Though the De Bottom’s extract ….. and ….effects as the Hopper’s paintings….

    BUT – Though De Bottom’s extract … and ….effects as Hopper’s paintings.

    * unless we talk about in the singular e.g. The Hopper painting, ‘The Lighthouse…’, is …..

    > As most of the human being, > it sounds more natural to say, As most people, …. (or As most human beings …)


    Can you try and correct these?!

    > I’m used to run all the time

    > Finally, I don’t know any other artist that communicate

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 27, 2020 at 11:55 am in reply to: British English vs American English

    Hello! Well done Vale.

    1. Correct!

    2. Yes, correct. You can also use: I’ve been studying ….

    3. Yes, correct. You can also say: I’m starting to get used to ….

    (Character with ‘H’)

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 27, 2020 at 9:24 am in reply to: British English vs American English

    Hi Vale, I think watching TV series is really one of the best ways to improve comprehension and pick up new words and expressions – and as you say, to start to hear differences between US and UK English. I think it’s fascinating!

    I agree that The Crown is good for studying: the dialogues are slow and the English is ‘standard’. Keep it up!

    Can you try and make some corrections here:

    1. I’ve not a lot of … >

    2. I’ve been studied … >

    3. I’m starting getting used to … >

    ps. Spelling: characters

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 27, 2020 at 9:17 am in reply to: British English vs American English

    Hi Chiara, I’m quite surprised to hear that. I thought it would be the opposite for you! I’m glad that you are noticing the vocabulary and accent differences. (Great job on using some of the new vocab – esp this phrase: while speaking are still putting a strain in my comprehension and the pronunciation and the fact they often eat the words to boot.)

    notes:

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 22, 2020 at 9:25 am in reply to: Defining art (some aspects)

    Good effort @sonim 👍

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 19, 2020 at 12:22 pm in reply to: Discussion room: art

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts @sonim – I like that era and Chagall too, (but I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen one of his paintings🤔). It’s curious, I am a bit the same – I love visiting museums and galleries when I travel, but I don’t tend to do it in my own town (I have only been to the Uffizi once 😱…although I have been to the Triennale Milano quite a few times!)

    I think we are all agreed about the importance of art in our society! How terribly dull life would be without it!

    NOTES:

    > Specially that one of the XIX th / beginning of XX th century – I would replace ‘that one of’ simply with ‘from’: Specially from the XIXth …To use ‘that one’ isn’t correct because you are talking about a collection of something rather than something individual or unique.

    > I always thought that behind a set of masterpieces (not only paintings) a very interesting and turbulent life hides…This sentence is so poetic and rich, I am reluctant to correct it! Because it isn’t wrong, and as I say it is rather lovely. However, a native speaker would say:

    I always thought that a very interesting and turbulent life lies behind a set of masterpieces (not only paintings) … (https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/lie-behind)

    > lastly, evidence is uncountable so we don’t need an article with it: Not only as evidence of the

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 15, 2020 at 10:30 am in reply to: Discussion room: art

    @sabr

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 15, 2020 at 10:27 am in reply to: Discussion room: art

    @sabri I confess ….something I am missing a lot right now is the art deco Odeon cinema in Florence! I love going there, even if the film isn’t so great, I just love the building. Anyway, I agree with you, we are realising in this period the importance of such things and art can take us out of daily life.

    Corrections below!

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 15, 2020 at 10:03 am in reply to: Discussion room: art

    @Aojewel that is fascinating. I’m afraid I have a lot of questions for you! What inspires your jewellery design? What materials do you work with? Do you have your own website or do you sell through retailers? Do you have a favourite Turkish artist? Okay, I’ll stop now!

    Note-

    > Related to my profession I am in design … for 20 years

    > Here you need to use the present perfect to show that it is something that started in the past and continues to present time: Related to my profession I’ve been in design … for 20 years

  • Kerin

    Administrator
    May 8, 2020 at 9:24 am in reply to: defining art

    Great effort @rubina – keep it up!

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