Considering ESL Courses? Here Are Some Common English Idioms to Know!
An idiom is a sentence, or group of words, also known as an expression. When someone says or writesan idiom, the meaning of the words are not always the same as they are in a dictionary.To understand an idiom, you have to learn the meaning of the whole sentence.
The meaning of an idiom is not literal.In a literal sentence, you can look up each word in a dictionary to understand the meaning. For example, there are no clouds in the sky today. If you know the meaning ofthe words, you understand the whole sentence. When someone uses an idiom, the meaning may come from a cultural idea, a tradition, or history.
In most languages, people use idioms all the time! Keep reading to learn about a few common English idioms.
Hit the Books
In an English program, you might hear an instructor say ‘hit the books’.The literal meaning of this is to bash, slap, or punch your books.Why would you do that?You might look up the word ‘hit’ and find many other synonyms like clobber, smack, or whack. None of them help explain the meaning of the phrase. So what does it mean?
When someone says hit the books, it means study!
Of course, hitting the books may also involve a laptop!
A Piece of Cake
If you study well for a test in your ESL program and you complete the test easily, then you can say it was a piece of cake. People use this phrase to say that doing something was very easy or simple. Maybe it was so easy, you enjoyed it the way you would enjoy a piece of cake. Another idiom with the same meaning is easy as pie, as in ‘learning one idiom is as easy as pie’.
Keep Your Chin Up
As you learn vocabulary and grammar for ESL courses, idioms should be part of the process,too. Why? Idioms will help you become betterat English. Sometimes you might hear a phrase that doesn’t seem to make sense and a feel a little confused. This can be frustrating as you are trying to learn English. Don’t worry! As you practice more you will learn more of these phrases. Keep your chin up!That means, keep trying and don’t lose hope.
Under the Weather
In English, there are a lot of idioms that refer to the weather and nature. This idiom,to be under the weather, describes a state in which someone feels sick or not well in some way. It will likely not refer to a serious illness. Instead, it is meant to be used when you don’t feel your best.
For example, if you did not sleep well, you might be really tired the next day. In the morning, when someone asks how you are, you might answer that you feel a little under the weather.
You might feel under the weather on a cloudy or sunny day
After ESL Courses There’s Nothing but Blue Skies
In general, many native English speakers use weather words to talk about their feelings. In this idiom, as you might guess, blue skies refer to feeling happy or positive. This may help you understand other weather idioms like storm in a teacup, which is used to talk about a small problem.
After you finish an English course and pass your exam, you might say nothing but blue skies ahead of me! This means that you are feeling positive about the future.
Want to know more about how an English program can improve your language skills?
Contact the American Learning Institute today!
Read MoreTips for Learning New Words for English Classes
There are new words being added to the Oxford English Dictionary all the time. Everyone is always learning! In fact, the average native English speaker learns about one new word per day as an adult. In every language, most native speakers know a lot of words, but they don’t use all of them every day, or even every week.
For example, the average English speaker might know 25,000 words, but you only need a small number of words for most conversations, reading the news, going to the store, or other things that happen every day.When you learn a new language, you will be surprised how quickly you can build up your vocabulary with the help of instructors and a few activities.
Keep reading to learn new ways to learn new words!
Write New Words in a Notebook
When you learn English in Dallas, your teachers, classmates, and textbooks will introduce you to new words and help you study them. You will also likely hear or read new words in other places, too. Get a small notebook and write down new words that you see or hear when you are not in class. How will this help?
Writing things down will help you remember them. A vocabulary notebook will also remind you to look up new words in the dictionary or ask someone about their meaning. If you are at the grocery store and see a word or phrase you do not understand on a magazine cover,write it down! You can read your notebook later, look the word up, and try to use it. Your vocabulary notebook will also help you review words you might have forgotten.
Listen to the Radio or Watch TV in English
The good news is that you have already learned many words in your native language! Your brain knows how to build vocabulary. We learn words in school from textbooks and teachers, but we also learn words by listening to them and seeing them all around us. If you listen to the radio or watch TV in English, your vocabulary will grow.
For example, you can watch or listen to the weather report. This will give you an understanding of how weather words are used every day. If you watch a television show or listen to the radio,you will hear the way many common words are used. This is helpful when you have looked up a word in the dictionary, but you are still not sure how to use it in a sentence.
Practice with Friends from English Classes
The best way to learn new words in English classes or at home is to practice using them. This will be part of your class, but you can also practice at other times. Text messages, phone calls, or video chats allow you to connect and practice with other people learning English.
Set up a time for conversation with classmates, and go over words from your vocabulary notebook with them. You can also watch a TV show and then talk about it with each other. Conversations like this will build up your confidence for learning new words and reaching your goals in English. Whether you want to go to University or College in the U.S., or you are working toward career goals, the more you practice, the more you learn.
How can English courses help you achieve your goals?
Contact the American Learning Institute in Dallas today!
Read More
How English Speaking Courses Could Help You Land Your Dream Job
If you are living in the United States, English is the main language you will use at work. Most companies will need employees to have a good command of English, and it will also help you to communicate with your coworkers, customers, and others.
Speaking more than one language can also be a great skill to add to your resume. People who speak English as a second or third language have the option to work in many different places doing different things.
What does this mean for you? Learning English gives you more opportunities!
Keep reading to find out how your English language skills can support your career goals.
English Can Help You Get an Education
Many people get their dream job because they have gone to university or college.A university degree is an important achievement, and many employers in the United States will be impressed with a degree from an American college or university.
Whether you want to study science, business, economics, literature, or art, learning English will help.If you want to take university or college courses, you will need to develop your grammar and vocabulary so that you can listen to lectures and write essays well. You might also need to pass proficiency tests like the TOEFL, a test that shows whether or not you are ready for college or university.
English Is Good for Your Resume
When you apply for jobs and list English and other languages on your resume, it could help your chances of success. Many people can do the job, but when you speak more than one language, your resume will attract more attention. Why?
Many companies that do business internationally will often need employees who speak more than one language for certain positions. For example, a company in the USA that does business in Latin America might want employees who can speak both English and Spanish.
When you are bilingual with English, there is a bigger chance that you will be able to get higher-paying jobs with more responsibility as you go through your career. Successfully completing English speaking courses also shows that you are a hard worker, and that is something many employers are looking for.
When You Improve Your English, You Improve Your Soft Skills
Learning a new language improves “soft skills.”Soft skills are things like how you get along with others, how you solve problems, and how well you organize your time. These skills are important to employers!
When you improve your English, your employers can see that you have worked hard to learn how to read, write, and speak with new vocabulary and grammar.They can see that you have made time to study and taken the initiative to improve yourself. Learning a new language also shows that you are a good listener and pay attention to details.Knowing that you have these skills could open up many opportunities for you in your career.
Want to know more about the benefits of going to English schools in the USA?
Contact the American Learning Institute in Dallas today!
Read More
Want to See the World? 4 Ways English Classes Benefit Travelers
As any traveler will tell you, English is the most spoken language in the world and is the language of travel. Whether you are backpacking through South East Asia, vacationing in Latin America, or exploring Europe, you will likely find that people speak at least a few words of English.
English is one of the most useful languages that you can speak if you want to visit new places and see the world. You will be able to connect with other travelers, make bookings and reservations easily, and learn about new cultures. Read on to discover how speaking English could help you as you travel the world.
Make Bookings with Ease
Wherever you travel, you might need to make bookings for accommodation, transport, and activities. This can be difficult if you don’t speak the country’s native language. However, you will usually find that staff at businesses that deal with tourists are able to speak some English, too, making it easier for you to make yourself understood.
English is also essential if you have any questions or special requests. For example, do you prefer a room with air conditioning? Do you need to check what time your bus is leaving? Taking English classes will help make your trip as comfortable and relaxing as possible.
Connect with Other Travelers
One of the joys of traveling is meeting other travelers and making friends with people from around the world, especially if you are travelling alone. English is often the common language between travelers, even if it is not their native language.
Taking an English program will help you to connect with travelers from other countries. You could make friends from English-speaking countries like Australia or the UK, or countries where English is a popular second language like Germany or Japan.
Learn More About Culture
Traveling is an opportunity to experience another culture and learn its history. As you travel, you may want to visit museums, galleries, and speak to locals. If you only speak your native language, this might be difficult. Some cultural attractions only include signs in the country’s native language and an English translation. This means that knowing English will help you to learn more about a place and its history.
As well as this, while the locals may not share your language, they will probably speak some English. If you can speak in English, too, you will be able to meet local people as you travel.
English Classes Will Help You to Travel Independently
Travelers that don’t speak English might need to rely on a tour guide or travel agent who can translate information in their language. This can be more expensive, and also means you don’t get to go out and discover a place for yourself.
If you can speak English, you won’t need to rely on a tour guide. You will be able to travel alone or with friends without needing any guidance. This will mean that you have more choice of where you go and when.
Do you want to learn English in the USA?
Contact ALI Dallas to find out more!
Read More
5 Tips to Enhance Your Skills for English Writing Classes
Whether you’re writing an email or an essay, it’s important to have good English writing skills. If you’re new to English, it can seem daunting to start writing, especially in a professional or academic setting.
If you want to improve your English writing skills, you will need to practice as much as possible and read as well as write. With time, you will notice that you have a better style and flow and make fewer errors.
Read on to discover our top tips to improve your English writing skills for all kinds of settings, from informal to formal.
1. Read Outside of English Writing Courses
One of the best ways to improve your writing skills withvery little effort is by reading. Read newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, and whatever else you find interesting! If you’re a beginner, you could read children’s books or books that you’ve read before in your native language. It will be easier to follow the story, so you will be able to read in English for longer.
Reading and writing outside of English writing courses will help you to improve your English language skills much faster. If you are watching a film or Netflix series, you could change the subtitles to English, so that you are reading them as you are watching.This will improve your writing skills as you will learn to copy the writing styles that you are reading.
2. Write as Much as Possible
You cannot expect to improve any skill without practice, and this is true for writing. The more you write, the more you will improve. You could write a daily journal to record your thoughts, a dream diary, or write fiction. Even posting on social media in English is a good way to practice.
Taking the time to proofread your work after will also improve your writing as you’ll be able to notice any common mistakes and watch out for these in the future.
If you choose to study English in America, you could keep a diary of your time in the USA in English. This could be a valuable memory of your experiences to look back on.
3. Find a Pen Pal and Write to Native Speakers
Another way to practice writing is to find a native pen pal. This is sometimes better than just writing for yourself,because a native speaker will be able to correct any mistakes you make. You will also have to read and understand their letters in order to respond.
You can find native speakers to help you on websites like PenPal World and iTalki. Or, if you just need someone to check your writing before you send it, you could use a website like Lang-8.
4. Don’t Worry About Making Mistakes
Many English learners are nervous about writing in English because they are worriedabout making mistakes. But you should remember that mistakes are an important part of learning. English grammar has a lot of rules that even native speakers don’t always get right.
In the beginning, focus on expressing yourself and getting your message across. This will build your confidence, and you can then focus on grammar. Don’t worry about being perfect; just worry about writing!
5. Keep it Simple
Finally, keep it simple. This will benefit both you and the people reading what you have written. Unless you are writing a novel, you don’t need to use complicated language and long sentences. The most important thing in writing is that the reader can understand, so use basic sentence structures and words that you are comfortable with.
Do you want to find out more about English writing classes?
Contact ALI Dallas for more information!
How to Get Confident Speaking in Your ESL Courses and Beyond
Do you feel confident reading and writing in English, but feel nervous when speaking out loud?
Speaking is one of the most common skills that language learners want to improve, and it’s no wonder why. The majority of communication is done face to face, so speaking skills are important.
Studying at ALI Dallas will help you to improve your English through interactive and practical lessons. Learn how you can improve your speaking both inside and outside of the classroom.
Take Every Opportunity to Practice Outside of English Speaking Classes
If you choose to study English in the USA, you will have endless opportunities to speak English. You can practice whenyou’re ordering a coffee before class, or attending an event, or spending time with English-speaking friends.
If you want to improve your English, you need to make the most of each of these opportunities.
Simple activities like buying coffee can be an opportunity to practice English
Don’t be shy to ask questions if you don’t understand something – most people are willing to help!
It’s also a good idea to think about the conversations afterwards. Decide what went well and what didn’t, and write down any new words that you heard. This will help you to improve and make sure that the next conversation goes even better.
Avoid Nerves by Preparing Before Conversations
One of the main reasons people find speaking a foreign language difficult is nerves. You may find that you get stressed and forget things you know. But this will get better with practice in English speaking courses and in real life.
One way to deal with this is to prepare before conversations when you can.
If you know you need to make a dinner reservation, book an appointment, or even go to a job interview, rehearse the conversation out loud first. You could even write down a cheat sheet with any words or phrases that you want to say or that are likely to come up. If you feel prepared, you will be less nervous.
It’s a particularly good idea to practice phone conversations with friends, or making appointments over the phone. Many people find speaking on the phone a lot harder than speaking in person, because you can’t read the other person’s facial expression or body language. Practicing on the phone will also improve your speaking ability in face to face conversations.
Try not to lose confidence if people don’t understand you. It’s normal for people to take a little while to adjust and understand an unfamiliar accent. Speak slowly and clearly, and repeat yourself when necessary.
Record Yourself Speaking Out Loud
Another way to improve your speaking is to record yourself speaking out loud. You could read a book aloud, repeat a new sentence you learned a few times, or just talk about your day.
Listening back to yourself speaking for 30 seconds can help you to quickly identify any pronunciation issues that you can work on to improve.
Listen as Much as Possible and Repeat Any New Words or Phrases
Lastly, the best way to improve your speaking is listening. By listening to your friends, the radio, podcasts, or TV, you will pick up on the correct accent and pronunciation. You will also learn new vocabulary and phrases which will help with speaking.
Are you interested in ESL courses?
Contact ALI Dallas to find out more!
3 Time Management Tips for When You Learn English Abroad
The motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” What did he mean by this?
You will be motivated to learn English if you plan to visit or live in an English-speaking country. This kind of motivation gets lots of people started. But how will you keep going?
Even when you want to do something, you still need energy and willpower to do it. One of the keys to becoming fluent in a language is practice, and you will get more practice if you have good habits. You can develop positive language learning habits through time management skills. Here are a few tips to get you started,and keep you going!
1. Dedicate Time to Language Learning Every Day
Life is busy! It can be difficult to find time to work on your language skills. A full-time program at an English school and good time management will help. When you take a class, it is a guarantee that you will dedicate a significant amount of time to learning English.However, many people also set up a schedule for learning outside of the classroom as well.
Choose a comfortable place at school or at home where you can study each day
For example, if you attend class in the evening five days a week, you could decide to dedicate time to studying for 25 minutes every morning after you have a coffee. When you set a regular time to work on English, studying can become a habit, like eating breakfast.If you stick to the schedule, you will you notice your skills improve.
2. Pick Exercises that Build on Your ESL Program Work
If you register for an ESL program, you will have the opportunity to work on listening, speaking, reading and writing in a variety of ways with experienced teachers. These classes will give you an idea of what you might want to work on outside of class.
For example, if you study for 25 minutes each morning, you could set the following tasks:
- Monday: vocabulary review with flashcards
- Tuesday: listen to an English podcast, write down a few new words and look them up
- Wednesday: read the newspaper and write a one sentence summary of one article
- Thursday: more vocabulary review with flashcards
- Friday: watch an English TV show
After you pick a time and the tasks you want to do, doing them will be easier. It takes energy to make a decision about how to spend your time.When you have good habits, it means you have already planned to make your life easier.
3. Reward Yourself and Adjust Your Goals
At the end of the week, take a look at what you have accomplished and give yourself a reward. It is important to recognize improvement and celebrate it. It is also possible that you will find that 25 minutes felt like too much practice every day, or not enough. Don’t be afraid to adjust and try out a new schedule.
Find out how classmates manage their time and learn from each other
You may also want to change the time of day you study or the type of tasks that you do. When you take classes to improve your English, your classmates and teacher will have more ideas about fun and useful activities to help you outside of the classroom. The main idea is to make sure that you practice regularly and be proud of your achievements as you progress.
Do you want to learn English abroad?
The American Learning Institute has classes for you!
Read More
How Social Activities Help Improve Your English Through Active Learning
The old saying is true: “practice makes perfect.” When you are learning English, practice can mean many different activities, including reviewing flashcards, doing written work, or having conversations with your classmates.
But you can also practice outside of the classroom. Social activities are a fun way to improve your English. Doing group activities with your peers is a form of active learning, and gives you the chance to practice your language skills in a relaxed setting. If you are attending ESL school in a new country, it can also be a great way to make new friends and see more of your new home.
Many teachers say this type of practice is essential for foreign language learners. Find out more about how social activities will help improve your English skills.
Social Activities Are Opportunities to Communicate in English
Having a conversation in a new language can be overwhelming. It is very different from memorizing vocabulary, writing an exam, or answering a teacher’s questions, and many students find it more difficult.
However, most people find that the more they speak, the easier it gets. Social activities provide more opportunities to improve your English speaking skills and practice communicating.
Students have a chance to enjoy a meal and talk to each other during a potluck
For example, when you have a potluck with your classmates, you all bring a dish of food to share. This fun activity gives you the chance to start conversations, practice new words, and learn about other cultures. This helps you connect what you learn in the classroom with a real-world situation, and can make speaking English less daunting.
Peer Support Is Helpful When You Study English in America
One of the most important ways social activities contribute to the improvement of language skills is through peer support.
When you study English in America, you will meet people from around the world who have similar language learning goals.
It is true that when you talk to your classmates, you might make more mistakes than when you talk with a teacher. However, this can be a positive thing. When you are in a social situation there is less pressure to speak perfectly, so it is likely that you will speak more. Peers can also correct each others’ mistakes, which is another form of active learning that will help you improve.
Social Learning Is Collaborative and Increases Confidence
Many language education experts say that social activities provide an opportunity for collaborative learning. This is another part of active learning, and can be very valuable to your development.
Social activities, like going to a restaurant with classmates, will help boost your confidence
When you have a conversation with someone in a social setting, you will work together to communicate. This will help you develop speaking and comprehension skills at the same time. It will also help to build your confidence and make you more comfortable having conversations in English.
Are you ready to study English abroad?
Take the next steps with the American Learning Institute today!
Read More
How Interactive English Classes Promote Language Learning
There are many ways to learn, and everyone learns differently. If you want to improve your English language skills, it is important to find a school that allows you to learn in a style that is right for you.
One way of learning that many English students find effective is through interactive lessons. In traditional ‘passive learning’ classes, students usually just listen and then memorize information for a test. However, interactive lessons get the students more involved, encouraging them to have conversations with the teacher and with each other.
When a classroom is interactive, students are more engaged, and more likely to succeed. Read on to find out why interactive English classes are a great idea.
Interactive English Classes Are Better for Your Memory
When you take English classes and learn new things, your brain makes connections as your teacher presents information. If you only listen to a lesson, you may remember it the next day, but you might forget some details.
However, if a teacher also asks you to talk and write during or after a lesson, then it is a more interactive process. When you engage with the material of the lesson actively, it is more likely that your brain will make stronger connections and memories. Also, when you spend time interacting with your teacher and your classmates, you practice using English more than in a passive classroom.
You will remember lessons better after you interact with the lessons in the classroom
Interactive lessons also make classes more fun because there is more variation. Instead of just listening and taking notes, students will participate in different activities.
Communication and Collaboration Is Important
If you want to improve your English skills, interactive classes will help. Interactive classes give you the opportunity to apply what you learn immediately through communication and collaboration. For example, after a lesson about past tense, you might talk to your classmate about what you did yesterday. Even if your grammar is not perfect right away, you will still communicate, and that is an important part of language learning.
Interactive learning also provides the opportunity for group activities with your peers. When you work with your classmates to answer a question, you will become more confident because you will have discussed the question and the answer. Then you can take that confidence outside of the classroom to your daily life.
Interactive Classrooms Meet Individual Needs
Some people are visual learners, which means that images will help them understand a lesson better. Other people are kinetic learners, which means that movement will help them. Most people benefit from a combination of learning styles, which is why interactive classrooms are great.
Interactive learning can be challenging, but it is also fun!
An interactive course can include lessons and activities designed for many different learning styles, so that every students’ individual needs are met. With interactive learning, everyone gets the best chance to succeed.
Looking for an English school with interactive, student-centred classes? Look for best online tutoring!
Or contact the American Learning Institute today!
Read More
5 Reasons to Learn English in Dallas
Learning and improving language skills is challenging and exciting. But where is the best place to study English? What location offers the right courses, lifestyle, and culture for you?
Dallas is a vibrant city in Texas with a diverse population, where you can learn with other students from all over the world. It is also an affordable place to live, with lots of attractions that you can enjoy. Here are a few reasons why learning English in Dallas is a great idea.
1. A Lively Sports Scene Can Help You Learn English in Dallas
Do you want to see a Major League Baseball game with the Texas Rangers? Would you enjoy getting a seat at a Mavericks basketball game? Or seeing the famous Dallas Cowboys play in the NFL?
If you like sports, Dallas is a very exciting city. Watching sports can also help improve your vocabulary, because it will introduce you to new English verbs and idioms.
2. Beautiful Weather and Fun Outdoor Activities
Texas has a humid and subtropical climate, which means that temperatures are warm all year. You can enjoy outdoor activities any time you like. For example, each autumn there is a big State Fair that has activities and food. If you take English courses in September or October, you might visit the fair with your class.
The American Learning Institute takes learning beyond the classroom
One of the best parts of studying English in Dallas is the wide variety of fun group activities you can experience. These activities are a great opportunity to practice speaking English. They can also help you learn more about the city.
3. Visit Lots of Great Restaurants
Another activity that helps you practice English is going to eat in restaurants, and Dallas is a great city to do it in!
Dallas residents enjoy barbecue as well as Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican food. There are also many restaurants offering Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, and other cuisines from the city’s multicultural population.
4. Enjoy Dallas’s Vibrant Art Scene
If you enjoy paintings, sculpture, music, or theatre, then you will find plenty to do while you learn English in Dallas. There is free general admission to the Dallas Museum of Art and many other museums and galleries throughout the city.
The city also has a symphony orchestra and theater center. Listening to music can be a nice break after class, and seeing a play at a theater can help you to practice your English listening skills.
In addition to enjoying the arts, you can learn about Dallas history at places like The Dealy Plaza
5. Dallas Is a Center for Business and Employment
Many people consider Dallas to be an important business center in the USA. As of 2019, there were nine big companies from the Fortune 500 list with offices in Dallas. This means that there are many great employment opportunities for residents.
Also, if your goal is to be an entrepreneur who runs their own business, then Dallas is a good place to start. There is no state or local income tax, which makes it easier for business owners to grow their startups.
Considering an English program in Dallas?
Contact the American Learning Institute today!
Read More