Getting into the swing of it
I'm glad that you've read all of my previous blogs! It's also great to hear that you made notes of all the useful phrases in your exercise book. I hope that you have a chance to use some over the next few weeks.
I think that this is a good time to refresh everyone's memory about how my blog works. In my blog I will respond naturally to Anita's blog. I will correct her English, or reformulate her expressions with more natural English, by writing in bold in my blog. I will also add other useful phrases, collocations or expressions in my blog using italics. In addition, I will list the useful phrases and their patterns at the end of each post. There maybe a lot of phrases, so pick out the ones that you find most useful. This method relies on you, the reader, to 'notice' useful English phrases and patterns. My role is to give you a little nudge in the right direction.
Now, what was I going to write about next? Oh yes... I can empathise with you about writing your first blog. I also had a few butterflies in my stomach before I started, but I'm sure you'll soon get into the swing of it. After a while it'll be plain sailing...
It's funny that you mentioned Queen. In Japan, they have become really popular over the last year. You often hear Queen hits on the radioin memory of Freddie Mercury. It's great that you are really into British music. Does it help you with your English? Do you sing along to the radio while you're doing the washing-up? How about other readers? What English songs do you like to sing along to when you are at home? Personally, I like singing along to new British acts like the Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand, "Well, do ya, do ya, do ya wanna..."
As you said, it's important to have a place to practise speaking in order to improve your English. It's good to hear that you really enjoy spending time at your English club and that you have made lots of new friends.
You may think that your summer wasn't special or action packed, but it's interesting to hear about everyday life in another country. I'm really looking forward to finding out loads more about your life in Slovakia!
Lewis
Some useful phrases from today's post
(to) make notes (of/about something) (in a notebook)
(to) pick out something OR (to) pick something out
(to) rely on someone (to do something)
(to) give someone a nudge (in the right direction)
(to) empathise (with someone) (about something)
(to) have butterflies in your stomach (about something)
(to) get into the swing of something
(something is) plain sailing
on the radio
(something is) in memory of someone
(to) sing along (to the radio/a song etc)
(to) make friends (with someone)
Comments
First i don't know how to start my comment: do I have to say "hello" ?!(I think that would be a great start)well, anyway, I'm here to tell you that I'm a young french student in biology and i do love the english language.I've been learning it at school for a LONG time now, but i've got to say that it's become a real passion since 2 years! I try to improve my english everyday by reading, speaking (well that's quite hard to speak in english with myself), chating and using Learning English. As i'm here telling you all this, it's the first time i've come on that blog, and it won't be the last one! I still make too many mistakes and i've got to say that it annoyes me, but I suppose it's normal!I just hope that one day i'll be able to speak it fluently! So well, at first I wanted to leave a comment just to thank you for "refreshing" every little brains and mine in particular about how your blog works. now that's done! cheers!
Yes,I love sing along to the radio or a song but I often get complaints from my husband.He says it sounds like a dying cat. in spite of that i will never give it up when i am doing house work.i have found that sing a song loudly is excellent for relieving stress.
keane is absolutely my fourate UK singer .I admired him of his gteat performance on live 8.how do like it?
Good afternoon Mr.Davies, I want just thank you for your advises. I've just read this part of the blog and I think I could really improve my English (I absolutely have to do it!!! lol). So thanks a lot and see you later!!! Cheers, Rosalba
iam really haappy to that there is a space for me so say anything in english and know there is someone will read it.this is the first time for me to do something like that and its so interesting. iam from egypt and study in medicine and learning enligh is my favorite hobby and i spend along time listining to english programes trying to improve my pronounciation thank u very much
i want to know if there is a place here to chat (speaking ) in english like i was used in paltalk ?
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