Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Teaching & Education

What is Linguistics?

A linguist is usually described as a person who is skilled in some way with a given language, including ancient languages. The term can be used to describe a person who specializes in linguistics, which is the study of language, or it can refer to someone who is well-versed in the translation, interpretation, and application of a language. At the same time, this title may be used for someone who is fluent in multiple languages.

In the academic sense, a linguist is a person who engages in and studies linguistics. This is the scientific study of language—both theoretical and practical. Such a person may be studying or professionally practicing either theoretical or applied linguistics.

Examples of theoretical linguistics include... Continue reading "Linguistics: Understanding Language Structure" »

Subject Pronouns

I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they

Object Pronouns

Me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them

Possessive Adjectives

My, your, his, her, its, our, your, their

We use "I'd like" to express desires.

We use "How's...?" to inquire about food.

Dialogues

Making a Reservation

A: How can I help you?
B: I'd like to make a reservation, please.
A: Certainly. For how many people?
B: For eight.
A: For eight people. And from what time?
B: Eight o'clock this evening.
A: Eight o'clock. And your name, please?
B: Yes, it's Kate Osbourne. O-S-B-O-U-R-N-E.
A: Thank you very much, Ms. Osbourne. We'll see you at 8:00.
B: Thank you.

Talking About Family

A: Have you got any children, Zayed?
B: Yes, I have.
A: Can you tell me about them?
B: Well, I've got a son. His name is Mohammed.... Continue reading "Spanish Pronouns, Dialogues, and Madrid Travel Costs" »

Scene: A Restaurant

David: Sorry, ladies. Your entrees are here; the main course will be served later so it doesn't cool down.

Claudia: Thank you, very kind.

David: A pleasure.

Miriam: How good is the food! The truth is that it's worth spending a bit more money and eating well.

Claudia: The truth is that, at the moment, I love everything.

David: Ladies, may I clear the entrees and serve the main course?

Miriam: Of course.

Claudia: Here you are.

David: Here are your hamburgers. Could you please cut into the meat to see if it is cooked to your liking?

Claudia: It's perfect.

Miriam: Perfect, thank you very much.

Claudia: My goodness! I'm full. I don't know if I'll be able to manage dessert.

Miriam: I am the same; this eating well is not my thing.

Ordering Dessert

David:

Field

Area of interest or study

Campo, área de estudio

She is an expert in her field

Es una experta en su campo

Specialise

Become an expert

Especializarse

Acquire

Gain

conseguir

Expertise

Knowledge

Experiencia, conocimiento

Lecturer

University teacher

Profesor de universidad

Tutorials

Students studying in small groups with a teacher

clase individual o con un pequeño número de estudiantes

Absences

Not being present

Ausencias

Get through

Pass

Superar

Graduate

Complete a first university degree

Graduarse

Scholarships

money for education provided on the basis of achievement or need

Becas

Tuition

Education

clases

Illiterate

Unable to read and write

Know-how

Skills and knowledge

Habilidades y conocimientos

Social networking sites

Faceboo, Twitter, Instagram

Redes sociales

Digital native

Person... Continue reading "University Vocabulary and Phrases" »

Nursery Vocabulary in Spanish and English

Furniture and Items

• La cama de los niños, una litera - Children's bed, a bunk bed
• El colchón - Mattress
• La almohada - Pillow
• La escalera - Ladder
• Un elefante de tela - Soft toy elephant, a cuddly toy animal
• Las bolas para contar - Counting beads
• El lápiz - Pencil
• El caballo de peluche - Toy horse for rocking and pulling
• El armario de la habitación de los niños - Children's cupboard
• El teléfono de juguete - Toy telephone
• Los juguetes - Toys
• La maestra de parvulario - Nursery teacher/nurse
• El niño del parvulario - Nursery child
• La muñeca bebé - Baby doll
• Los trabajos manuales - Handicraft
• El rompecabezas - Jigsaw puzzle
• La pasta de modelar - Modelling clay
• Los libros infantiles - Children's books
• El cochecito de

Naming the Source

• According to [the text/professor]…
• The [text/professor] says that…
• The [text/professor] states that…
• In the [lecture], it was said that…

Listing

• …, for one.
• First,…
• Second,…
• The first point that the professor makes is…
• The second point [he/she] addresses is…
• Besides that,…
• Moreover,…
• What’s more,…
• Next,…
• There’s also the fact that…
• Furthermore,…
• Additionally,…
• Finally,…

Giving Examples

• For example,…
• For instance,…
• [The professor] provides the example of [noun]…
• [The professor] elaborates on this by explaining…

Reporting the Professor’s Opinion

• [The professor] believes that…
• [The professor] disagrees with the text in that…
• [He/she] points out that…
• [He/she] refutes [this point] by noting that…
• [He/

Describing Trends and Data in Graphs

Verbs and Adverbs for Trend Description

• Sales increased dramatically (Ventas aumentaron dramáticamente)
• Sales grew steadily (Ventas crecen constantemente)
• Sales rose sharply (Las ventas aumentaron drásticamente)
• Sales declined gradually (Ventas disminuyeron gradualmente)
• Sales fell gently (Ventas cayeron suavemente)
• Sales fluctuated (Ventas fluctuaron)

Adjectives and Nouns for Trend Description

• There was a dramatic increase in sales (Hubo un aumento dramático en las ventas)
• There was a steady growth (Hubo un crecimiento constante)
• There was a sharp rise (Hubo un fuerte aumento)
• There was a gradual decline (Se observó un descenso gradual)
• There was a slight fall (Hubo una pequeña caída)
• There was a fluctuation (Había

A. Meeting and Follow-Up

I'm writing to arrange a time for the meeting next week. We had arranged a meeting for tomorrow to discuss our business plans. Following conversations with our distributors, following a meeting of the ..., it has been decided to cut our training budget by... Due to the suggestions that our staff gave us, we have decided to promote this fact.

B. Requests and Apologies

I would be grateful if you could (give us a sample/ inform)-(send us details of your services). We would be pleased if you could inform us about how... I wonder if you could tell me what time... I apologize again for the changes, and I hope we can meet in the near future. If you are interested in working with us, please contact me at the above number to arrange... Continue reading "Essential Business English Phrases and Vocabulary" »

Professional Correspondence Templates

Letter of Apology

Salutation Options

• Dear Sir/Madam,
• Dear [Recipient's Name],

I cannot describe how sorry I am and how guilty I feel because of everything that has happened recently.

Explanation of Incident

When you came to my office, I was so upset due to a notice I received at the same moment.

Structure for Detailed Explanation:

1. First, [Detail 1]
2. Then, [Detail 2]
3. Finally, [Detail 3]

I hope you can understand everything that I have explained and that I am not in a good moment. I hope you will accept my apology and that our relationship remains the same way that it has until now.

Closing Options

• Yours faithfully,
• Best wishes,

Signature Options:

• Marc Jorge (Full Name - Formal)
• Marc (First Name - If connected/informal)

Formal

Understanding Key Ceremonial Speeches and Public Roles

Ceremonial speeches serve vital functions in public life, marking important transitions, celebrations, and acknowledgments. Below are definitions of essential speech types and related roles in public speaking.

Master of Ceremonies (MC)

An individual designated to set the mood of the program, introduce participants, and keep the program moving smoothly.

Speech of Welcome

A brief, formal ceremonial address that greets and expresses pleasure for the presence of a person or an organization.

Speech of Introduction

A brief ceremonial speech that establishes a supportive climate for the main speaker, highlights the speaker's credibility by familiarizing the audience with pertinent biographical information,... Continue reading "Essential Types of Ceremonial Speeches and Public Speaking Roles" »