Search found 37 matches

by blackmagicABC
Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:57 am
Forum: Assessment
Topic: Cambridge examiners assessment procedure: marks collection
Replies: 2
Views: 6802

Don't you think that some of what you mentioned might be considered confidential?
by blackmagicABC
Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:51 pm
Forum: Pronunciation
Topic: about phonics
Replies: 8
Views: 15400

Without turning this into a whole word vs Phonics discussion, there is no evidence that students find English more interesting if they are able to pronounce English words. They have to understand what they are reading. Phonics education by itself does not guarantee that. As for only teaching one par...
by blackmagicABC
Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:18 pm
Forum: Business English
Topic: keep half an eye
Replies: 2
Views: 4192

He is not really watching the house. He is doing whatever work he does, and as an extra keeping an eye on the house but not with the same amount of effort.
by blackmagicABC
Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:23 pm
Forum: Business English
Topic: fall over oneself
Replies: 3
Views: 4535

A little dubious in meaning.
It should mean they were very eager and enthusiastic(almost overly eager and enthusiastic) but the full treatment seems to have a negative connotation so the context is confusing to me.
Then again I am not that smart.
by blackmagicABC
Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:23 pm
Forum: Pronunciation
Topic: Phonetic alphabet symbol set
Replies: 7
Views: 11376

Just for clarification I did mean to say "The person not pronouncing the "r" is as correct as the one that does" Luke, all I can say to your last comment is "I know and it is very frustrating" They seem to approach it like there is only one way to write it, and one way to do it and thus only one cor...
by blackmagicABC
Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:43 am
Forum: Pronunciation
Topic: Phonetic alphabet symbol set
Replies: 7
Views: 11376

I am not mixing IPA and Phonics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenyon_and_Knott Many students in Taiwan are required to not only learn the KK (Kenyon and Knott system) but also write it in spelling tests. The problem I have with this is like in the example I gave the word "square" has 6 correct trans...
by blackmagicABC
Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:01 pm
Forum: Pronunciation
Topic: Phonetic alphabet symbol set
Replies: 7
Views: 11376

I don't know in which country you teach but if it is in Taiwan you are probably having your first encounter with Kenyon Knott or KK Phonics as they call it. They wrote "A pronunciation Dictionary of American English" and although it is based on the IPA it is not exactly the same. Try to explain to a...
by blackmagicABC
Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:40 am
Forum: Business English
Topic: a vested interest in
Replies: 3
Views: 4702

Yes, well at least their profit is.
by blackmagicABC
Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:18 am
Forum: Business English
Topic: a vested interest in
Replies: 3
Views: 4702

Banks make more money of richer clients. It differs from bank to bank but about 80% of there income is generated through "structured lending" which is Tax or Derivative Based Finance. So the more a client is worth the more they can invest through the bank or borrow from it. Richer people hedge their...
by blackmagicABC
Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:01 am
Forum: Activities and Games
Topic: Activities for those 'too cool' advanced teenagers
Replies: 21
Views: 27152

I guess my point is - how to get them to read it, to know it. Reading it in class ain't condusive to a good class activity. They won't read it at home. Do you know what I mean? At first they don't read it. I know there are many people against this but I have my reasons. Let the students read aloud ...
by blackmagicABC
Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:02 am
Forum: Activities and Games
Topic: Activities for those 'too cool' advanced teenagers
Replies: 21
Views: 27152

Well, not knocking the book but there are better books.
Charles *beep* has a few, Sherlock Holmes, Dracula etc.
Girls tend to like the love and all ends happy kind of stories. Worst ever in my opinion is Little Woman. I almost fell asleep teaching it.
by blackmagicABC
Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:06 pm
Forum: Activities and Games
Topic: Activities for those 'too cool' advanced teenagers
Replies: 21
Views: 27152

Depending on what you are required to teach you could try short story reading. It does take a long time to start seeing results but it is worth it. Ideally you want the students to read the story at home and then discuss it in class. Initially they won't, in fact for the first 6 months you would pro...
by blackmagicABC
Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:17 am
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: voiced/unvoiced - the real story?
Replies: 41
Views: 18440

Firstly I agree completely that while we shouldn't change the spelling, we should change the way the phonics is written purely because it is clearer for word like stop or skill. Ironically, many foreign teachers whom I have met here in Taiwan is unaware of this and only realize the say "sdop" if you...
by blackmagicABC
Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:19 pm
Forum: Bilingual Education
Topic: Interesting story
Replies: 1
Views: 3224

Interesting story

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23556514?GT1=43001
I don't think it has much practical application for teachers but it is nevertheless interesting.
Would you consider sign language as a second language or an extension of the first language?
The girl is obviously very gifted.
by blackmagicABC
Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:47 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: voiced/unvoiced - the real story?
Replies: 41
Views: 18440

I wasn't disagreeing with you. I agree. I just find it the easiest to explain to a grade one or two kid who asks me why one sound is long and the other short. That was really the reason for the experiment. It really does happen kind of naturally and I suspect (have no proof) it has to do with the as...