Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for English

Have you ever visited a place that you will remember for your whole life? That's what I felt when I first visited Australia.

Last summer, I wanted to go on a dream journey, so I took my laptop, and it only took me two minutes to decide: the coast of Australia.

At first, I wasn't very convinced: an awful thirty-hour flight! However, I can now say that it's worth it! The beaches are enormous, the sun is permanently shining, and visitors can see incredible creatures and fantastic animals, such as koalas, kangaroos, and parrots.

Besides, I was able to visit the Sydney Opera House.

Things to do on the Australian Coast

• Surfing
• Sunbathing
• Going on a boat trip

In my opinion, nobody could ever regret visiting the biggest island in the world. So many things

Learning English is crucial for academic pursuits, business endeavors, and even travel. Studying English abroad, particularly in the UK, offers significant advantages due to constant language immersion. Engaging in daily activities like shopping, asking for directions, and watching TV compels you to speak English consistently, enhancing your accent and encouraging you to think in the language rather than relying on your native tongue. However, the high cost of studying abroad can be a barrier for some, and adapting to a different culture and experiencing homesickness can pose challenges.

Learning English in your home country also has its merits and drawbacks. Studying with peers who share your native language and face similar challenges can... Continue reading "Learning English Abroad vs. at Home: Weighing the Pros and Cons" »

Ballad Basics

·Ballads are newspaper like compositions written to remember Important people, events or places.

Format

·abcb rhyme scheme

·8,6,8,6 syllabic count

·4 line stanza

·Refrains

·Narrative storyline

Types

·Traditional (Oral)

·Literary (Written)

Topics

·Love lost due to moving

·Moving/ settling

·Working (train, railroad, etc)

·War and battle

Enablers (Positive reasons for them being oral)

·Events written about are well known

·Follows a typical story narrative

·Typical melodic sounds are used

·Made of short simple lines

·It is entertaining which is motivational

Limits (Negative reasons that led them to be oral)

·Low or no time to formally compose

·Low or no access to paper and pen

·Low or no level of literacy

What happens When ballads travel

·Name

INFORMAL

Hi John,

How are you? I am great and everything in my life is going even better!

I am writing you because I would like to know if ... I actually need to know that because ...

In addition, do you think you could ...

If you need any other information, please contact me.

Thank you in advance,

Kind regards,

Alberto

Your Best Friend

FORMAL

Dear Mr. John,

I hope everything is going as planned.

I am writing in reference to your proposal to ... I would be grateful if you could send me ... due to the fact that ...

Additionally, I was wondering if you could ...

If you need further information, do not hesitate to request it.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Alberto

Managing Director

Benefits of Following News in English

Nowadays, many things can be said about this topic. In fact, there are many different opinions, and it is a very common discussion. People don’t agree easily, but you cannot deny that it is an interesting topic.

Reading the newspaper and watching news programs in English are excellent ways to build vocabulary and be aware of public opinion in other countries. Reading articles about your own country in English newspapers can leave you very surprised because the perspective is often very different. On the Internet, you can easily access news sources in English.

Staying abreast of current affairs is also a great source of conversation topics, both in meetings with friends and chats over the Internet with friends... Continue reading "Current Affairs: English News, Beyoncé, Olympics, Rosetta" »

Characters:

Montresor: He is the protagonist of the story, an intelligent, serious, and very sensitive man. A man a bit negative but who does everything he wants. A man who decides to take revenge for an unfortunate situation that he could not control.

Fortunato: He is a dominant man and always sure of himself. He likes to laugh and make fun of Montresor and that will bring him great problems. Another minor character is Luchresi, who is a wine professional. The character refuses to accompany Montresor to carry out his macabre plans.

Stories:

The story I like the most is The Werewolf, written by Angela Carter, because I knew the traditional story of Little Red Riding Hood and I really liked the feminist vision of the protagonist of the story, a... Continue reading "The Cask of Amontillado: Edgar Allan Poe's Revenge Story" »

He was in favour of social equality and was also a preacher of Wycliffe’s doctrine.

He was imprisoned three times because of confrontations with the archbishop of Canterbury. He was very popular with the common people and his sermons had great effects on them. This idea is shown in the first line of the text: "...he knew would be pleasing to the common people". The author of the text is a clear supporter of the feudal system and he’s against Lollardy, he considers that the Lollard’s ideas can infect the other people in England. This is illustrated in some expressions used in the text: "speaking evil", "...the perverse doctrine of the perfidious Wycliffe, his opinions and insane follies..." As we can see, Thomas uses a subjective language.

Why Troy Remains My Favorite Film

Rarely do I have time to watch a film. However, if I were to choose my favorite movie, Troy would undoubtedly be my pick. Its appeal stems not only from the historical relevance of its storyline but also from the breathtaking scenery and the stellar performances of its main actors.

An Unforgettable Cinematic Experience

The film boasts an all-star cast whose witty dialogues left an unforgettable impression on me. Despite depicting a well-known historical event, its plot is far from hackneyed. The narrative centers on Paris and Hector, brothers and princes of Troy, who must defend their city against Greek forces after Paris falls in love with Helen, the Spartan king's wife.

Spartan and Greek kings recruit Achilles,... Continue reading "My Cherished Selections: A Classic Film & Indispensable Device" »