Kaplan GMAT/GRE/LSAT Platinum Edition 2005 (4 CD-ROM sets)

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CD4 Grad School Guides
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GMAT 2006

Book Description
Includes:
*Fully integrated book, CD-ROM, and online program
*A rich online study plan that guides students through all of the integrated assets of the comprehensive program, including the book, online, and software
*Guidance throughout the program, directing students to additional resources within the program if they need it
*A diagnostic experience to help students concentrate on the areas in which they need the most help
*A progress report, so students can keep track of and analyze their performance as they make their way through the program
*Email communication at key points during the program, providing extra tips and guidance, as well as motivation to keep improving
*Monthly online additions to ensure that the student has the latest content and information about the exam
*Remedial content to ensure students are up-to-speed on the basic concepts before attacking higher-level content
*Downloadable strategy and reference guides for easy prep on the go
*Realistic practice experiences
*Online question banks
*6 full-length practice tests with detailed answer explanations

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Master the GMAT 2007 (ARCO)

Book Review:
For complete prep for the GMAT, students know and trust ARCO. Now in its 13th edition, this no-nonsense guide includes intensive review of everything on the exam. It also features essay-writing analysis, a CD with lectures, and a bonus practice test.
Features and benefits include:
- The "Top Ten" test preparation tips from the experts
- 6 full-length practice tests with detailed answers for each question
- Special advice on writing a personal statement that shines
- CD featuring author's Private Tutor Lecture series

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How to use:
1. Unpack ISO file,
2. Mount or burn CD,
3. run GMAT2006.exe,
4. Setup program (press 'Take 3 Computer-Adaptive Practice Tests').

GMAT Kaplan 2007 CDROM

GMAT Kaplan 2007 CDROM

Book Description
From the creators of the #1 GMAT course... Kaplan's GMAT Premier Program: 2007 Edition comes complete with a comprehensive review of all the material on the exam, and Kaplan's proven test-taking strategies to help maximize your score. This powerful combination is a highly effective way for you to score higher on the GMAT and make yourself competitive for business school admissions. Plus, we provide additional online features to help you practice with even more GMAT questions. You will score higher. We guarantee it.

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Official Guide for GMAT Review_10th edition

This Official Guide from GMAT outshines all others, simply because the questions are chosen from actual past tests and are very thoroughly researched. Equally important the answer choices for each question are also well thought out and both the correct and the incorrect choices reflect actual test patterns. The explanations for the answers in the Official Guide are crystal clear and very insightful.
The rules of grammar on which the GMAT Sentence Correction questions are based are best outlined in this guide. The section on Arguments is simply outstanding. I had a lot of difficulty with the Verbal section until I read through the explanations here.
The absolute best part of the guide is that it not only explains clearly why an answer choice is correct, but also explains why the other choices are wrong. This is most useful since it shows you the patterns and tricks used on the actual test to lead you astray from the correct answer. Once you see the patterns, you can quickly identify and rule out the incorrect answers and pick out the best choice.

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Official Guide for GMAT Review (10th ed.)

This Official Guide from GMAT outshines all others, simply because the questions are chosen from actual past tests and are very thoroughly researched. Equally important the answer choices for each question are also well thought out and both the correct and the incorrect choices reflect actual test patterns. The explanations for the answers in the Official Guide are crystal clear and very insightful.
The rules of grammar on which the GMAT Sentence Correction questions are based are best outlined in this guide. The section on Arguments is simply outstanding. I had a lot of difficulty with the Verbal section until I read through the explanations here.
The absolute best part of the guide is that it not only explains clearly why an answer choice is correct, but also explains why the other choices are wrong. This is most useful since it shows you the patterns and tricks used on the actual test to lead you astray from the correct answer. Once you see the patterns, you can quickly identify and rule out the incorrect answers and pick out the best choice.

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GMAT CAT practise test: Simulation

The purpose of this test is to give you an idea of how the actual GMAT looks like.
We have taken care to make the questions and the format of the test as representative of the actual test as possible. You cannot skip a question : a question will be displayed only after you have indicated your answer to the preceding question.
Like the actual GMAT, this test is adaptive, i.e., the level of a question depends on your answers to the preceding questions.
Try out this test to have a actual feel of GMAT. This is a CAT test, which means that the test will adapt itself to your level, as actual GMAT does.

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Writing Skills for the GRE & GMAT

(Peterson's Writing Skills for the GRE & GMAT Test)

This book helped me score a 5.5 out of 6 on the writing portion. When I first began studying fot the GRE, I was intimidated by all the elements of the writing section: a vast pool of vague topics, impossible time limits, and my own cluttered opinions. I found Peterson's guide to be a practical refresher on rhetoric, fine tuned for maximum performance on the 45 minute and 30 minute essays.
My first few practice essays were rushed and unclear. On the day of the exam, I found myself with EXTRA time to edit and even add an extra paragraph. This could not have happened without Peterson.
I located this book at the public library a few days before the GRE- one of the best preparation decisions I made. It prompted me how to use supporting examples without letting them become cumbersome, develop a nuanced but clear line of reasoning, and skillfully deconstruct the arguments given in the argument-analysis portion.
This book might be a few years old, but its contents far outperform Barron's 2006/7 section on the GRE writing portion. I recommend using Barron's for everything else (verbal, quantitative tips and review, and the practice tests)- but complement your study with Peterson's book.
Also, I would recommend checking out the A&E video series "Biography of the Millennium: 100 People, 1000 Years" for an overview of western culture and history. It supplies some great examples to use in your essay.

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BARRON'S GMAT 2007-2008 CD-ROM

Updated to prepare students for the latest Graduate Management Admission Tests as it is given in the computer-adaptive format, this manual presents a diagnostic test and five full-length practice tests. Answers and explanations are given for all questions. The manual’s extensive subject review sections focus on all six GMAT testing areas: essay writing, reading comprehension, sentence correction, critical reasoning, problem solving, and data sufficiency. The accompanying CD-ROM simulates actual test-taking conditions. It presents a computer-adaptive exam with automatic scoring.
 

 
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New Insight into Ielts

New Insight into IELTS offers comprehensive preparation and practice for IELTS. By exploring the test paper by paper, and looking in detail at each task type, the course gradually builds up the skills, language and test techniques students need to approach IELTS with confidence.

 The course contains a detailed introduction to the test and a full answer key and is equally suitable for use in the classroom or for self-study.

The material is intended for use with students whose current level is around Band 6 and is suitable for both Academic and General Training candidates.

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Don'ts in IELTS

All the videos have examples of language to use in your exams - both the speaking and the written exam. I hope they help you study and pass through the exam with flying colours.

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Instant IELTS

This photocopiable resource is packed with a range of ready-to-use IELTS exam practice activities. The lively discussions and role plays that accompany them turn each IELTS task-type into a stimulating lesson. The book is organised by paper type, giving teachers a flexible resource that they can tailor to their students' specific needs.

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STEP UP TO IELTS

Cambridge - STEP UP TO IELTS
Teacher's Book (2004)

This course covers essential exam skills and language for IELTS in approximately sixty hours’ teaching time, and familiarises students quickly with the exam. The course covers both the Academic and General Training modules It provides students with invaluable advice on how to maximise their band score in the exam. Shorter, achievable exam-type tasks build students’ exam skills, before students try the more challenging tasks at authentic test level. The test practice sections at the end of each unit together constitute a whole sample IELTS test. The ‘With answers’ edition contains a full answer key and information on the exam, making it ideal for students preparing independently. For students with more time, the pocket-sized Personal Study Book provides extra vocabulary, grammar and writing practice. The Self-study Pack contains the Self-study Student's Book and Audio CDs (2).

Contents
1. Take a break;
2. What’s on the menu?;
3. On the road;
4. All at sea;
5. Come rain or shine;
6. Value for money;
7. Ignorance is bliss;
8. Fit as a fiddle;
9. The driving force;
10. The silver screen;
11. The written word;
12. Down to earth;
13. Safe as houses;
14. On the face of it;
15. Mother tongue;
16. As far as I can see

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Cambridge Ielts 1

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Cambridge Ielts 2

Cambridge IELTS 2 Student's Book with Answers This collection of practice material for the International English Language Testing system (IELTS) has been specially prepared for publication by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. It provides students with an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with IELTS and to practise examination techniques using authentic test material.

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Cambridge Ielts 3

Cambridge IELTS 3 provides students with an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with IELTS and to practise examination techniques using authentic test material. This collection contains four complete tests for Academic candidates, including practice in the updated Speaking test (June 2001 syllabus), plus extra Reading and Writing modules for General Training candidates. The book includes an introduction to these different modules together with an explanation of the scoring system used by Cambridge ESOL. The inclusion of a comprehensive section of answers and tapescripts means that the material is ideal for students working partly or entirely on their own.

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Cambridge IELTS 6

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404 Essential Tests for IELTS – Academic Module

404 Essential Tests for IELTS – Academic Module  has been written to give candidates extensive practice with instructions, question types and content used in the Academic versions of IELTS examinations.
The book includes four complete practice tests for the Academic versions of IELTS examinations. It also includes detailed descriptions of the four test sections.
"404 Essential Tests for IELTS – Academic Module" is a comprehensive and thoroughly trialled set of practice tests for the Academic IELTS examination.
The book can be used by the student for self-study or integrated into a course programme.

Test 1

Test 2

Test 3

Test 4

Grammar for IELTS (Book & CD)

Upper-intermediate level.

Cambridge Grammar for IELTS provides complete coverage of the grammar needed for the IELTS test, and develops listening skills at the same time. It includes a wide range of IELTS tasks from the Academic and General Training Reading, Writing and Listening modules, and contains helpful grammar explanations and a grammar glossary.

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Focus on Academic Skills IELTS

Focus on Academic Skills for IELTS is the ideal companion to Focus on IELTS Coursebook, providing further thematically-linked practice for each unit. It can also be used on its own for self-study or as a short intensive IELTS course. - Detailed information about the exam- Guided practice for all four skills in each of the ten modules- Language input for speaking and writing- Hints and tips to help with special areas of difficulty- Language review at the end of each module, focussing on key academic language- Five self-check progress tests recycling key language and skills in new contexts. - Guidance on assessing your writing- Ideas for speaking and writing about the topics in reading and listening texts- Tips on how to improve your performance in all four skills- Detailed answer key and tapescripts.

Student Book

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IELTS on track

IELTS On Track

is a NEW set of IELTS Test practice material suitable for self study, IELTS preparation classes and further education training. IELTS On Track has over 200 pages packed with practice tests and test preparation activities, including two complete interviews for the revised IELTS Speaking Test.

Professor Stephen Slater is a key Cambridge University Press English Language Teaching international author, and along with the team of authors brings to the book extensive international experience in IELTS candidate preparation, test materials writing and IELTS assessment.

IELTS On Track practice material has been trialled in Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The Pack (book and 2 CDs)

• IELTS On Track has been written by IELTS specialists to give prospective IELTS candidates genuine preparation for, and experience of, the IELTS Test.

• IELTS On Track allows the candidate to conduct self-evaluation of his/her English proficiency before taking the formal test. It improves confidence and prospects for success in the formal IELTS Test.
• IELTS On Track is comprehensive and user friendly.
 

Key features include:

6 IELTS Academic Reading and Writing Tests

4 IELTS Listening Tests

Fast Track strategy sections for each subtest – detailed strategies, tips, advice and tasks

Test preparation activities for Speaking and Writing

2 IELTS Speaking Tests recorded on CDs

Full transcripts of all recorded material

Full answer keys and answer sheet guidance

Fast Track sections for each subtest offer detailed strategies, advice and tasks, using language that addresses the IELTS candidate clearly and in a user-friendly way. The Fast Track Writing section is a key section, offering detailed activities for language and writing improvement for each Writing Test task. Fast Track Speaking offers candidates focus activities as they listen to the recorded interviews plus additional speaking practice topics and questions. There is a full Answer Key and Transcription of all recordings.

Book

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IELTS Speaking Test

This book contain a full describtion of the three parts of the speaking test, try to practice how to elaborate your answer not how to copy what is in this book into your mind, as memorization during the test time is almost impossible.

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IELTS Preparation and Practice, Reading and Writing 

 Academic Module

The book providing comprehensive preparation for the IELTS. Now with Practice Tests with annotated

Key features:
The series is a complete training course for students intending to sit the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
It reflects the format of the test and develops the necessary skills for each module. The series offers separate titles for the Academic Modules and the General Modules.
Practice tests are provided, together with step-by-step descriptions and models of how to answer test questions.
Includes useful tips.
Answer Key and transcripts of all listening tasks.
The contributing authors are accredited IELTS examiners.
The material is suitable for use in class and for self-study.
The new edition of the Listening and Speaking Book and Cassettes incorporate the changes to the exam.
NEW - Practice Tests with Annotated Answer Key and Practice Tests cassette.

Full Book

Writting Part

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Prepare for IELTS General Training Modules

Contains five practice tests, written by IELTS experts, the book includes full transcripts and answer key and has been extensively tested in IELTS preparation classes.

But the listenings are with Aussie accent.

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McGraw-Hill's Conquering the GMAT Verbal and Writing

An intensive review for those times when your verbal skills need polishing, McGraw-Hill's Conquering GMAT Verbal and Writing includes full-length sample tests, skill-building exercises, and strategies students need for higher scores.

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11th Edition - FULL BOOK

The only study guide with real GMAT® questions—and their answers—developed by the test creators.

In the 11th edition, you'll find some useful new features:
a NEW diagnostic section to help you figure out where to focus your test-prep efforts
800 questions organized by difficulty to save you study time
a comprehensive math review of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems, the skills tested by the GMAT® exam
about 270 Analytical Writing Assessment topics

The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 11th Edition offers 800 retired GMAT® questions and thorough explanations of the answers. Practicing with questions that have appeared on the GMAT® exam before will prepare you for the types of questions you'll see when you take the real thing. This Guide will help you learn what you need to know to answer those questions correctly.

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GMAT Vocabulary List

Collection of the most frequent words for the GMAT Examination. Comprises of 176 pages with the words , their parts of speech, meaning and example sentences. e:g,

  abaft
   (adv.) on or toward the rear of a ship
    The passengers moved abaft of the ship so as to escape the fire in the front of the ship.

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GMAT For Dummies

If you’re planning to apply for an MBA program, you’re required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). And you thought your days of sharpening number 2 pencils were over! How do you prepare for such a comprehensive test? Never fear. GMAT For Dummies, Fifth Edition, puts at your fingertips everything you need to know to conquer the GMAT. This highly readable, friendly guide makes the study process as painless as possible, providing you with complete math and grammar reviews and all the preparation you need to maximize your score and outsmart your competition. You’ll discover how to:

• Understand the test’s format
• Bring the right stuff
• Make educated guesses
• Avoid the exam’s pitfalls
• Calm your nerves
• Save time and beat the clock
This Fifth Edition is packed with plenty of updated practice questions so you can see just how the GMAT tests a particular concept. Our sample questions read just like the actual test questions, so you can get comfortable with the way the GMAT phrases questions and answer choices. You get plenty of tips on correctly answering the sentence correction, reading comprehension, and critical reading questions and tackling the analytical essays. There’s also a comprehensive math review of everything from number types to standard deviation and expanded coverage of statistics and probability. Each section ends with a mini practice test to prepare you for the two full-length practice tests featured in this easy-to-digest guide. You’ll see how to:
• Quickly eliminate incorrect answer choices
• Read passages quickly and effectively
• Break apart and analyze arguments
• Write a well-organized, compelling essay
• Tackle the data sufficiency math question type that only appears on the GMAT
• Use relaxation techniques if you start to panic during the test
Complete with a scoring guide, explanatory answers, timesaving tips, math formulas you should memorize, and a list of writing errors to avoid, GMAT For Dummies is all you need to practice your skills, improve your score, and pass with flying colors.
 

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Hey, dear friends!!!

From now on, you can find free download links for English books here!!!

The educational and academic articles are available on my other blog English for everyone.

What is Communicative Methodology?

'Communicative' is a word which has dominated discussions of teaching methodology for many years. Although in a monolingual English language classroom, 'real communication' in English is impossible, in 'communicative methodology' we try to be 'more communicative'. That is to say, even though it may be impossible to achieve 'real communication', we should attempt to get closer to 'real communication' in our classrooms.

What does it mean?
Communicative methodology includes a number of different (and perhaps interconnecting) principles.

The primary aim of foreign language learning is communication with users of the foreign language.

Students study the foreign language as a system of communication.

Students learn and practise the foreign language through 'communicative activities'.

Communication as primary aim
In the past the 'primary aim' of language learning seemed to be mastery of the grammatical system. The only practical task was translation and that was usually translation of 'great literature' rather than letters to the bank manager. The methodology for teaching modern, 'living' languages was identical to the methodology for dead, classical languages like Latin and Ancient Greek.

Today, we see our primary aim as teaching the practical use of English for communication with native speakers and others.

Learning English as a system of communication
Language contains many 'systems', one of which is the system of grammar. Mastery of grammar is still important but only as a means to successful communication.

How long have you been here?

How long are you here for?

We are less concerned with the grammatical difference between these two questions than with their difference in meaning. We are less concerned with grammatical errors of form than with errors of meaning because these will lead to a breakdown in communication.

What are communicative activities?
In its purest form, a communicative activity is an activity in which there is:

a desire to communicate

a communicative purpose

a focus on language content not language forms

a variety of language used

no teacher intervention

no control or simplification of the material

Let's examine each characteristic in turn.

1. A desire to communicate.
In a communicative activity there must be a reason to communicate. When someone asks a question, the person must wish to get some information or some other form of result. There must be either an 'information gap' or an 'opinion gap' or some other reason to communicate.

2. A communicative purpose.
When we ask students to describe their bedroom furniture to their partners, we are creating an artificial 'communicative purpose' and making the activity more artificial by asking them to do it in English.
We also create artificial 'information gaps' by giving different information to pairs of students so that they can have a reason to exchange information.

3. A focus on language content not language forms.
In real life, we do not ask about our friend's family in order to practise 'have got' forms. We ask the question because we are interested in the information. That is to say, we are interested in the language content and not in the language forms.

4. A variety of language is used.
In normal communication, we do not repeatedly use the same language forms. In fact, we usually try to avoid repetition. In many classroom activities we often try to create situations in which students will repeatedly use a limited number of language patterns. This is also artificial.

5. No teacher intervention.
When you are buying a ticket for The Lion King at the theatre, your teacher is not usually beside you to 'help' or 'correct' your English. Teacher intervention in classroom communicative activities adds to the artificiality.

6. No control or simplification of the material.
In the classroom, we often use graded or simplified materials as prompts for communicative activities. These will not be available in the real world.

How can we make classroom 'communicative activities' less artificial?
As we have seen, there is no real possibility of real communication in English in a monolingual classroom. Learners must 'pretend' that they need to communicate in English. However, we can reduce the artificiality by looking at the features mentioned above. We can easily reduce teacher intervention, we can use more authentic materials, we can encourage a wider variety of language use, we can create more natural communicative purposes.

Games and puzzles make good contexts for communicative activities. The books of 'Communication Games' at different levels by Jill Hadfield (Longman) are good examples of successful 'communication' activities for the language classroom.

So You Want to be a Teacher

So you want to be a teacher,
and my advice you feel you need.
Have you truly caught the vision,
those precious minds to lead?



Kids are eagerly awaiting
for your love and for your care.
Do you have that true devotion?
Oh, my friend, it is so rare.

Do you feel that inner yearning,
your knowledge to impart?
That call to be a teacher
is first found within the heart!

Even though you have the knowledge,
you must have that inner “fire”;
Just to see their eager faces
should be your deep desire.



Think it over for a moment.
there is hard work to be done;
But with love and dedication,
there are victories to be won!

My friend, don’t be discouraged,
don’t let your vision fade.
If you really feel the calling,
the foundation can be laid.

Now just listen very closely,
when you reach that girl or boy,
And you sense that thirst for knowledge,
you will find exquisite joy.



If you have that true devotion
and you know that it will last,
Then you're the show's producer
and your students are your cast!

As you feel them reaching out to you,
for the knowledge that you’ll share,
Your heart will soar with gladness
and you’ll find your calling there.

Keep that vision there before you then
and never, never lose it;
Take the talent God has given you
and for this great task, use it.



If you truly love the children,
then they will clearly see
That you’re the kind of teacher
God intended you to be!

Learning by teaching

In professional education learning by teaching designates a method which centers on student voice, allowing pupils and students to prepare and teach lessons or parts of lessons. Learning by teaching should not be confused with presentations or lectures by students, as students do not only convey a certain content, but choose their own methodological and didactical approach in teaching their classmates a certain area of the respective subject. It should neither be confused with Tutoring, because of the intensive control and supporting of the learning-process through the teacher by learning by teaching in contrast to the other methods.

Students as teachers in order to spare teachers

In 1795 the Scotsman Andrew Bell wrote a book about the mutual teaching method that he observed and used himself in Madras. The Londoner Joseph Lancaster picked up this idea and implemented it in his schools. This method was introduced 1815 in France in the "écoles mutuelles", because of the increasing number of students who had to be trained and the lack of teachers. After the French revolution of 1830, 2,000 "écoles mutuelles" were registered in France. Due to a political change in the French administration, the number of écoles mutuelles shrank rapidly and these schools were marginalized. It is important to stress that the learning level in the Bell-Lancaster-schools was very low. In hindsight, the low level can probably be attributed to the fact that the teaching-process was delegated entirely to the tutors and that the teachers did not supervise and support the teaching process.

Dear colleagues,

I found this one prety useful and decided to put it here and make this weblog a place for students and teachers!!! Enjoy it!

Never translate: demonstrate

Never explain: act

Never make a speech: ask questions

Never imitate mistakes: correct

Never speak with single words: make a sentence

Never speak too much: make students speak much

Never use the book: use your lesson plan

Never jump around: follow your plan

Never go too fast: keep the pace of the student

Never speak too slowly: speak normally

Never speak too quickly: speak naturally

Never speak too loudly: speak naturally

Never be impatient: take it easy

The Comma

Comma usage is in some respects a question of personal writing style: some writers use commas liberally, while others prefer to use them sparingly. Most modern North American style guides now recommend using fewer commas rather than more, so when faced with the option of using a comma or not, you may find it wise to refrain.

For instance, the use of a comma before the "and" in a series is usually optional, and many writers choose to eliminate it, provided there is no danger of misreading:

We bought scarves, mittens and sweaters before leaving for Iceland. (comma unnecessary before "and")

We ate apples, plums, and strawberry and kiwi compote. (comma needed before "and" for clarity)

Comma Usage

1. Use a comma before a co-ordinating conjunction that joins independent clauses (unless the independent clauses are very short):

   I wrapped the fresh fish in three layers of newspaper, but my van still smelled like trout for the next week. (commas with two independent clauses)

   She invited him to her party and he accepted. (comma unnecessary with short clauses)

2. Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause and, often, after an introductory phrase (unless the phrase is very short):

   After the hospital had completed its fund-raising campaign, an anonymous donor contributed an additional $10,000. (after introductory adverb clause)

   From the east wall to the west, her cottage measures twenty feet. (after introductory prepositional phrase)

   In the bottom drawer you will find some pink spandex tights. (no comma with short, closely related phrase)

3. Use a comma to separate items in a series:

   Playing in a band can be exciting, but many people do not realize the hardships involved: constant rehearsals, playing until 2 a.m., handling drunken audience members, and transporting heavy equipment to and from gigs. (the comma preceding "and" is optional unless needed to prevent misreading)

4. Use commas to set off non-restrictive elements and other parenthetical elements. A non-restrictive modifier is a phrase or clause that does not restrict or limit the meaning of the word it is modifying. It is, in a sense, interrupting material that adds extra information to a sentence. Even though removing the non-restrictive element would result in some loss of meaning, the sentence would still make sense without it. You should usually set off non-restrictive elements with commas:

   The people of Haiti, who for decades have lived with grinding poverty and mind-numbing violence, are unfamiliar with the workings of a true democracy.

   A restrictive modifier is a phrase or clause that limits the meaning of what it modifies and is essential to the basic idea expressed in the sentence. You should not set off restrictive elements with commas:

   Those residents of Ottawa who do not hold secure, well-paying jobs must resent the common portrayal of the city as a land of opportunity.

   Note that you can use two other punctuation marks to set off non-restrictive elements or other parenthetical information: parentheses and dashes. Enclosing parenthetical information in parentheses reduces the importance of that information:

   Mr. Grundy's driving record (with one small exception) was exemplary.

5. Placing parenthetical information between dashes has the opposite effect: it emphasises the material:

   Mr. Grundy's driving record -- with one exception -- was exemplary.

   Nevertheless, you should usually set off parenthetical information with commas.

Superfluous Commas

Equally important in understanding how to use commas effectively is knowing when not to use them. While this decision is sometimes a matter of personal taste, there are certain instances when you should definitely avoid a comma.

• Do not use a comma to separate the subject from its predicate:

  [WRONG] Registering for our fitness programs before September 15, will save you thirty percent of the membership cost.

  [RIGHT] Registering for our fitness programs before September 15 will save you thirty percent of the membership cost.

• Do not use a comma to separate a verb from its object or its subject complement, or a preposition from its object:

  [WRONG] I hope to mail to you before Christmas, a current snapshot of my dog Benji.

  She travelled around the world with, a small backpack, a bedroll, a pup tent and a camera.

  [RIGHT] I hope to mail to you before Christmas a current snapshot of my dog Benji.

  [RIGHT] She travelled around the world with a small backpack, a bedroll, a pup tent and a camera.

• Do not misuse a comma after a co-ordinating conjunction:

  [WRONG] Sleet fell heavily on the tin roof but, the family was used to the noise and paid it no attention.

  [RIGHT] Sleet fell heavily on the tin roof, but the family was used to the noise and paid it no attention.

• Do not use commas to set off words and short phrases (especially introductory ones) that are not parenthetical or that are very slightly so:

  [WRONG] After dinner, we will play badminton.

  [RIGHT] After dinner we will play badminton.

• Do not use commas to set off restrictive elements:

  [WRONG] The fingers, on his left hand, are bigger than those on his right.

  [RIGHT] The fingers on his left hand are bigger than those on his right.

• Do not use a comma before the first item or after the last item of a series:

  [WRONG] The treasure chest contained, three wigs, some costume jewellery and five thousand dollars in Monopoly money.

  [WRONG] You should practice your punches, kicks and foot sweeps, if you want to improve in the martial arts.

  [RIGHT] The treasure chest contained three wigs, some costume jewellery and five thousand dollars in Monopoly money.

  [RIGHT] You should practice your punches, kicks and foot sweeps if you want to improve in the martial arts.

There's a Spanish train that runs between
Guadalquivir and old Saville,
And at dead of night the whistle blows,
and people hear she's running still...

And then they hush their children back to sleep,
Lock the doors, upstairs they creep,
For it is said that the souls of the dead
Fill that train ten thousand deep!!

Well a railwayman lay dying with his people by his side,
His family were crying, knelt in prayer before he died,
But above his bed just a-waiting for the dead,
Was the Devil with a twinkle in his eye,
"Well God's not around and look what I've found,
this one's mine!!"

Just then the Lord himself appeared in a blinding flash of light,
And shouted at the Devil, "Get thee hence to endless night!!"
But the Devil just grinned and said "I may have sinned,
But there's no need to push me around,
I got him first so you can do your worst,
He's going underground!!"

"But I think I'll give you one more chance"
said the Devil with a smile,
"So throw away that stupid lance,
It's really not your style",
"Joker is the name, Poker is the game,
we'll play right here on this bed,
And then we'll bet for the biggest stakes yet,
the souls of the dead!!"

And I said "Look out, Lord, He's going to win,
The sun is down and the night is riding in,
That train is dead on time, many souls are on the line,
Oh Lord, He's going to win!.."

Well the railwayman he cut the cards
And he dealt them each a hand of five,
And for the Lord he was praying hard
Or that train he'd have to drive...
Well the Devil he had three aces and a king,
And the Lord, he was running for a straight,
He had the queen and the knave and nine and ten of spades,
All he needed was the eight...

And then the Lord he called for one more card,
But he drew the diamond eight,
And the Devil said to the son of God,
"I believe you've got it straight,
So deal me one for the time has come
To see who'll be the king of this place,
But as he spoke, from beneath his cloak,
He slipped another ace...

Ten thousand souls was the opening bid,
And it soon went up to fifty-nine,
But the Lord didn't see what the Devil did,
And he said "that suits me fine",
"I'll raise you high to a hundred and five,
And forever put an end to your sins",
But the Devil let out a mighty shout, "My hand wins!!"

And I said "Lord, oh Lord, you let him win,
The sun is down and the night is riding in,
That train is dead on time, many souls are on the line,
Oh Lord, don't let him win..."

Well that Spanish train still runs between,
Guadalquivir and old Saville,
And at dead of night the whistle blows,
And people fear she's running still...
And far away in some recess
The Lord and the Devil are now playing chess,
The Devil still cheats and wins more souls,
And as for the Lord, well, he's just doing his best...

And I said "Lord, oh Lord, you've got to win,
The sun is down and the night is riding in,
That train is still on time, oh my soul is on the line,
Oh Lord, you've got to win..."

Just listen to this Italian guy speaking English and enjoy his NICE accent!!!

http://funcop.net/italianenglish.swf

What are tongue twisters?

Tongue Twisters are lots of fun (and difficult). They often don't make much sense, but they certainly exercise your pronunciation muscles.

Peter Piper

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Betty Botter

Betty Botter had some butter,
"But," she said, "this butter's bitter.
If I bake this bitter butter,
it would make my batter bitter.
But a bit of better butter--
that would make my batter better."

So she bought a bit of butter,
better than her bitter butter,
and she baked it in her batter,
and the batter was not bitter.
So 'twas better Betty Botter
bought a bit of better butter.

Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

She sells sea shells by the seashore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

A Flea and a Fly

A flea and a fly flew up in a flue.
Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

Woodchuck

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could,
and chuck as much wood as a woodchuck would
if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

In the name of GOD

The Speaking test may even take place a day or two later at some centres.

IELTS listening test lasts for about 30 minutes. It consists of four sections, played on cassette tape, in order of increasing difficulty. Each section might be a dialogue or a monologue. The test is played once only, and the questions for each section must be answered while listening, although time is given for students to check their answers.

IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. Students are given an Academic Reading test, or a General Training Reading test. Both tests consist of three sections, and in both tests the sections are in order of increasing difficulty.

IELTS Writing test also lasts for 60 minutes. Again, students take either an Academic test, or a General Training test. Students must perform two writing tasks, which require different styles of writing. There is no choice of question topics.

IELTS Speaking test consists of a one-to-one interview with a specially trained examiner. The examiner will lead the candidate through the three parts of the test:
An introduction and interview, an individual long turn where the candidate speaks for one or two minutes on a particular topic, and a two-way discussion thematically linked to the individual long turn. This interview will last for approximately 11-14 minutes.