english matters

Everyone in today’s world travels. We need English, or another foreign language if we go somewhere abroad. It is sometimes necessary to talk to local people and ask them for directions to a place we want to visit. It can also happen that somebody asks you about a place in your home town. Would you like to help this person, but you can’t? Let’s change that! It’s possible to feel comfortable when you use English to move around town!   Places in a City Let’s start with the basic vocabulary for the places in a city which you need…Czytaj dalej …

  Complete the sentences with these words: jumps, tooth, new, away, pop, wind, time, door, up, middle: 1. He’s seriously ill – at death’s ______. 2. She never hurries – she always takes her ______. 3. We live in the __________ of nowhere. 4. She loves cakes – she has a sweet _______. 5. They ran after him but he managed to get ____. 6. When your partner doesn’t speak to you, you know something’s ____. 7. When she took the medicine she felt like a ____ woman. 8. He ran like the…Czytaj dalej …

tanorexic – unable to tan (comes from Jersey Shore) truthiness – belief that something must be true or right because it feels right. A belief which is not based on facts or any logical evidence (comes from: The Colbert Report) shamazing – shazam + amazing; awesome, amazing, great (comes from: The X Factor USA) mockumentary – mock + documentary; a film or TV programme having the form of a documentary whose subject materials are fictional (example: The Office) mind-meld – telepathic link of minds enabling two or more individuals to exchange their thoughts (comes from: Star Trek)   Interested in more titbits…Czytaj dalej …

1. Learn conversation fillers. Even the best speakers occasionally need a moment to collect their thoughts. In such situations, native speakers of English use conversational place holders such as: • um… • ah… • well,… • Let me think. • so,… • I guess… • er… • I suppose… • You mean… • I mean… • basically,.. • like... • You know… • ok… • literally… • actually… • right… • I see • hold on • Let’s see. • To be honest • As a matter of fact • I was just thinking… 2. In order to be an effective speaker of English, you need to be an effective listener…Czytaj dalej …

We recommend taking advantage of the digital editions of Colorful Media magazines. The latest editions of English Matters, Business English Magazine and Deutsch Aktuell are all available from the kiosk at colorfulmedia.pl                                                                                                                          Czytaj dalej …

Language is used in a variety of contexts, both written and spoken. Among other things, it has been present for centuries in songs, which can in fact be a great source of information about how the language operates. Therefore, songs may serve as a tool for learning grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation as well as some fixed phrases. Whether or not you can create your own music, or you just listen to it with great pleasure, you can definitely use it to improve a variety skills in the English language. If at this time of year you are focused on practising grammar, below you’ll find a careful selection of songs which will cater to your needs. 1. to be Watch the…Czytaj dalej …

The OK symbol, made by connecting the index finger and thumb in a circle, means that everything is all right - in most of the world. However, in at least three countries, this sign means something completely different. In Japan, it means money; in France, it means something is worthless, while in Brazil it is a really rude gesture which could land you in big trouble. Be careful!     You’ll find lots of titbits concerning the English language and general knowledge about the world in Colorful Media's new edition - 365 Days with English Matters:     Czytaj dalej …

  We all know about the differences between American and British English, but what about the disparities found in the various forms of American English?   The most obvious varieties of American English are based solely on geography. In certain cases, Americans in some parts of the country simply speak different from their compatriots who hail from other locations. Nowhere is this divide more prevalent than when northern and southern states are compared. An American from the extreme north of Minnesota won’t be entirely incomprehensible to a southerner from Texas, but different words…Czytaj dalej …

    This breakfast definitely gets the award for the fanciest name! Sprinkles, in case you are wondering, are any topping that is small and numerous, and added using a sprinkling action (basically you drop the small bits of something on the bigger something and call it ‘sprinkles’ to make it sound nice…which it is). They are sometimes chopped nuts and sometimes flakes of chocolate. You can even buy ‘sprinkles’ in the shops – this type are small pieces of sugar, processed with colouring to make them all the bright colours of the rainbow that children can’t get enough of. Whichever sprinkle you choose, to…Czytaj dalej …

A very useful verb in the English language is the verb to set. Here are a few examples of things that all can be set: • a date • guidelines • standards • a fashion • an alarm clock • the table • something on fire • your jaw (when it’s broken) • sail • the scene (for sth)     More tidbits about English available  in English Matters special edition entitled 365 Days with English Matters - 365 mini lekcji na każdy dzień roku.                     …Czytaj dalej …