domingo, 6 de noviembre de 2011

LINKING WORDS

Para introducir opinión


- I agree that … (estoy de acuerdo en que…) 
- I disagree that … (no estoy de acuerdo en que…) 
- I believe  that … (creo que …) 
- I think that… (pienso que…) 
- In my opinion, … (en mi opinión) 
- In my view, … (bajo mi punto de vista) 
- It seems to me that … (me parece que) 


Para introducir una serie de puntos 


- First of all / Firstly / In the first place, … (en primer lugar) 
- Secondly, … (en Segundo lugar) 
- Thirdly, … (en tercer lugar) 
- Then, … (entonces) 
- Later, … (luego) 
- After that, … (después de eso) 
- Finally, … (finalmente) 


Para expresar contraste 


- Although … (aunque) 
- However, … (sin embargo) 
- In contrast, … (al contrario) 
- Nevertheless, … (sin embargo) 
- On the one hand, … (por una parte) 
- On the other hand, … (por otra parte) 
- This ignores the fact that … (esto ignora el hecho de que) 
- On the contrary, … (por el contrario) 
- Despite … (a pesar de ) 


Para añadir información 


- Also, … (también, además) 
- Besides, … (además) 
- Furthermore, …( además) 
- In addition (to this), … (además de esto) 
- What’s more, … (lo que es más) 
- It  must also be said that… (tambien hay que decir que) 


Para introducir la conclusión 


- In conclusion, … (para finalizar/concluir) 
- In short, … 
- To sum up, … 
- To conclude, … 


Para citar


- According to the text, … (de acuerdo con el texto) 
- As the autor points out, … (como menciona el autor)

jueves, 13 de octubre de 2011

Applied linguistics

By Kamil Wiśniewski Aug 29th, 2007

Applied linguistics is an umbrella term that covers a wide set of numerous areas of study connected by the focus on the language that is actually used. The emphasis in applied linguistics is on language users and the ways in which they use languages, contrary to theoretical linguistics which studies the language in the abstract not referring it to any particular context, or language, like Chomskyan generative grammar for example.

Interestingly even among applied linguists there is a difference of opinion as to the scope, the domains and limits of applied linguistics. There are many issues investigated by applied linguists such as discourse analysissign language, stylistics and rhetoric as well as language learning by children and adults, both as mother tongue and second or foreign language.

Correlation of language and gender, as well as the transfer of information in media and interpersonal communication are analyzed by applied linguists. Also forensic linguistics, interpretation and translation, together with foreign language teaching methodology and language change are developed by applied linguistics.

Shortly after the introduction of the term applied linguistics it was associated mainly with first,second and foreign language teaching, however nowadays it is seen as more interdisciplinary branch of science. Although in certain parts of the world language teaching remains the major concern of applied linguists, issues such as speech pathologies and determining the levels of literacy of societies, or language processing along with differences in communication between various cultural groups - all gain interest elsewhere.

In European union the focus of applies linguistics is put on the issues connected with the language policy of this multilingual community. The primary aim is to keep the balance in fulfilling the need for lingua franca and maintaining smaller languages in order for them not to get devalued. This is a pressing matter as with the migration of people within the European union and from outside its boarders the mixture of languages is getting more and more complex. Therefore, the focus is also put on analyzing language attitudes, adopting common language policy, creating teaching textbooks and other materials.

As it can be seen there are many trends in applied linguistics, some interconnected, others not having too much in common. There are, however, some very general tendencies among applied linguists to put more effort on certain investigations such as languages of wider communication,corpus analysis, or critical applied linguistics. When it comes to languages of wider communication it is clear that with the increasing numbers of international travels and technological advances the need for an international language raises. As English is the contemporary lingua franca applied linguists attempt to include language policy and planning in their interest, but is also concerned with analyzing language and identity, and special educational needs. Corpus analysis takes both quantitative and qualitative approach to the study of language and applied linguists focus of the identification of patterns of language use depending on social context, audiences, genres and settings. Critical applied linguistics is interested in the social problems connected with language such as unemployment, illiteracy and pedagogy.

Brown K. (Editor) 2005. Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics – 2nd Edition. Oxford: Elsevier

miércoles, 21 de septiembre de 2011

Taller de Inglés Avanzado día 8




conditional type 0 >> ZERO CONDITIONAL                             

IF  + SIMPLE PRESENT  +  SIMPLE PRESENT 
Used for scientific facts or general truths
 (usado para expresar verdades científicas
, hechos que nunca cambian o situaciones que siempre ocurren). Algunos gramáticos incluyen este tipo de condicional dentro de FIRST CONDITIONAL oConditional Type I.
If you heat butter, it melts. Si calientas manteca, ésta se derrite.
If you put water in a cooler, it freezes. Si colocas agua en el congelador, ésta se congela.
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils. Si calientas agua a 100 grados, ésta hierve.
If you cross an international date line, the time changes. Si cruzas una línea de tiempo internacional, la hora cambia.
If you drop ice in water, it floats. Si tiras hielo al agua, éste flota.
If iron gets wet, it rusts. Si el hierro se moja, se oxida.

conditional type I >> FIRST CONDITIONAL                             

Used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future. It is generally used for things which may happen (utilizado para cosas que pueden ocurrir en presente o futuro).
a)  IF  + SIMPLE PRESENT  +  SIMPLE FUTURE 
If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
Si estudias intensamente aprobarás tus exámenes. 
If we do not protect the panda bears, they will soon become extinct.
Si no protegemos a los osos panda, pronto se extinguirán.
b)  IMPERATIVE  +  OR AND  +  SIMPLE FUTUREUsed for threats and promises (usado para expresar amenazas y promesas)
Don't say a word about this, or I will kill you.
No cuentes una palabra de esto o te mato.
Finish your job, and you will have a bonus.
Termina tu tarea y tendrás una gratificación
.
c)  IMPERATIVO  +  IF IN CASE  +  SIMPLE PRESENT
Contact me if you need any help.
Ponte en contacto conmigo si necesitas ayuda.
Call them in case you need help.
Llámalos en caso de necesitar ayuda.
NOTE: In cases b and d above, you can replace IF (si) by UNLESS (a menos que)





conditional type II >> SECOND CONDITIONAL         

Used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future. It is generally used for things which don't or won't happen.It is generally used for things which may happen (utilizado en presente o futuro para expresar situaciones hipotéticas, que normalmente son irreales o imposibles).
IF  +  SIMPLE PAST  +  SIMPLE CONDITIONAL 
If FIRST verb in the sentence is TO BE, WERE is used for all persons.

(Si el PRIMER verbo de la oración es TO BE, se usa WERE para todas las personas)
If I were rich, I would buy a castle. Si fuera rico, compraría un castillo.
If I were him, I would go and see a doctor. Si fuera él -en su lugar- consultaría con un médico.
If elephants had wings, they would be able to fly. Si los elefantes tuvieran alas, podrían volar.

NOTE: You can replace IF (si) by UNLESS (a menos que) in the examples above.





conditional type III >> THIRD CONDITIONAL


Used to talk about unreal situations in the past, that is, things which did not happen in the past. (utilizado para expresar situaciones irreales – que nunca sucedieron – en el pasado y, en general, dentro de un contexto de crítica, queja o remordimiento). En español tienes una construcción similar por lo cual este condicional no debería resultar complicado.
IF  +  PAST PERFECT  +  CONDITIONAL PERFECT 
If FIRST verb in the sentence is TO BE, WERE is used for all persons.

(Si el PRIMER verbo de la oración es TO BE, se usa WERE para todas las personas)
If I had known that you were sick, I would have gone to see you. Si hubiese sabido que estabas enfermo, te habría ido a ver.
The real situation was that I didn't know you were sick. So I say If I had known... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.
If you had saved your money, you could have bought a laptop. Si hubieses ahorrado tu dinero, podrías haberte comprado una computadora.
The real situation was that you didn't save your money. So they say If you had saved... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.
If you hadn't been late for work so often, they wouldn't have fired you. Si no hubieses llegado tarde al trabajo tan seguido, no te habrían despedido.
The real situation was that you wasn't early for work. So they say If you hadn't been late... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.

NOTEYou can replace IF (si) by UNLESS (a menos que) in the examples above.




Page with exercises: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences










Paractise:




Listenig, reading and speaking:
http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/theclassroom/articles/health/How-Much-Screen-Time-Is-Too-Much-for-Children--129959053.html

lunes, 19 de septiembre de 2011

Taller de Inglés Avanzado día 7


Curriculum Vitae Example



CONTACT INFORMATION
Name
Address
Country
Telephone
Cell Phone
Email
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Citizenship
Visa Status
Gender
Additional Personal Information:
Optional
Marital Status
Spouse's Name
Children
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
List in chronological order, include position details and dates of employment
Work History
Academic Positions
Research and Training
EDUCATION 
Include dates, majors, and details of degrees, training, and certification 
High School
University
Graduate School
Post-Doctoral Training
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Certifications and Accreditations
Computer Skills
AWARDS
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
LANGUAGES
List languages and fluency
INTERESTS

VERB TENSES

Presente simple:Tiene la misma forma que el infinitivo para todas las personas, excepto para la tercera persona del singular que añade generalmente una -s.

A: I eat a lot
N: I don't eat much
I: Do you eat much?


Uso:Para hablar de acciones rutinarias
Para hablar de hechos o verdades generales
Para hablar de situaciones permanents


Presente continuo:


Se forma con el presente simple del verbo to be + el verbo principal acabado en -ing


A: I am eating a hot-dog

N: I'm not eating a hot-dog
I: am I eating a hot-dog?


Uso:Para expresar acciones que ocurren en el momento de hablar
Acciones que están ocurriendo temporalmente, no necesariamente en el momento de hablar
El presente continuo no se suele utilizar con los siguiente verbos: belong, hate, know, like, love, mean, need, prefer, remember, understand, want.


Pasado simple:Se forma añadiendo -ed al infinitivo. La negación e interrogación se forman con el auxiliar did. Recuerda que didn't es la contracción de did not.


A: I played in the park
N: I didn't play in the park
I: did I play in the park?


Uso: Hablar de acciones pasadas que tuvieron lugar en un momento determinado.
Narra hechos pasados secuenciados


Pasado continuo:Se forma con el pasado simple del verbo to be + el verbo principal acabado en -ing.


A: I was sleeping in the park
N: I wasn't sleeping in the park
I: was I sleeping in the park?


Uso:Describe una actividad que ocurría en un momento especifico del pasado
Describir una actividad interrumpida por una acción mas corta
Describir dos acciones simultáneas. El tiempo verbal equivalente en castellano suele ser el pretérito imperfecto.

Futuro simple:
Se forma con willl + infinitvo para todas las personas

A: I will return tonight
N: I will not return tonight
I: will I return tonight?

Uso:
· Espresar prediction del futuro
· Hacer promesas
· Hacer un ofrecimiento
· En las oraciones condicionales del primer tipo
· Tomar una decisión en el momento de hablar.

Futuro con going to:Se forma con el presente continuo del verbo to go + el infinitivo del verbo principal.

A: I'm (I am) going to stay at home 
N: I'm (am not) going to stay at home
I: Am I going to stay at home?

Uso: 
· Expresar intenciones
· Hablar de planes futuros
· Hacer prediciones de futuro a traves de hechos evidentes en el presente

Modales:· Tienen la misma forma verbal invariable para todas las personas , excepto have (got) to, que tiene has en la tercera persona del singular
· Van siempre delante del verbo principal en las oraciones afirmativas y negativas
· Con la excepcion de ought to, have to , used to, el verbo principal va siempre en infinitivo sin to.
· En las oraciones interrogativas se invierte el orden del sujeto y el verbo modal
· En las oraciones negativas la particula not va siempre detrás del verbo

Can:
· Expresar posibilidad o imposibilidad.
· Expresar habilidad
· Be able to se usa para completar los tiempos verbales de can
· Expresar y pedir permiso
· En negativa: expresar deduccion

Could:
· Expresar habilidad en el pasado
· Pedir algo educadamente
· Expresar imposibilidad en el pasado
· Hacer especulaciones
· Hacer sugerencias
· Expresar la idea de can en el estilo indirecto
· Expresar una critica

May:
· Pedir algo
· Expresar permiso
· Expresar posibilidad
· Hacer especulaciones

Might:
· Expresar la posibilidad de que algo ocurra
· Hacer especulaciones

Must:

· Expresar obligación
· En forma negativa: expresar prohibición
· Expresar deduccion afirmativa

Need:
· Expresar necesidad
· En forma negativa: expresar ausencia de obligación

Have to:
· Expresar obligación
· En forma negativa: expresar ausencia de obligación





Reading, speaking, listening and writing your opinion.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/09/110915_6min_english_soldier_teacher_page.shtml

viernes, 26 de agosto de 2011

Taller de Inglés Avanzado día 6

Litsening and reading about: Shopping Centres: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/08/110825_6min_english_shopping_page.shtml

Writing and Speaking:


- Where is the best shopping center you have ever been? (*)
- Do you buy more than you need at a shopping mall?
- Where do you by food, clothes, beauty products or cleansing products?




Present Perfect






  • El "present perfect" es un tiempo que sirve para describir acciones que acaban de suceder en el pasado y que guardan alguna relación con el presente. Equivale en castellano al pretérito perfecto:







  • I have bought a car. Yo he comprado un coche: nos indica que la acción de comprar el coche acaba de realizarse. 





  • Si por el contrario utilizáramos el "past simple" esta conexión con  el presente se pierde:







  • I bought a car. Yo compré un coche: no implica que la acción haya sido reciente, ni que aún siga teniendo ese coche. 





  • En las oraciones con "present perfect" no se suele mencionar el momento en el que se ha desarrollado la acción:







  • I have read a book. Yo he leído un libro: la acción acaba de finalizar. 





  • Ya que si se mencionara el momento de su realización, entonces habría que utilizar el "past simple":







  • I read a book this morning. Yo leí un libro esta mañana 





  • No obstante, a veces sí se puede mencionar el periodo de tiempo en el que la acción se ha desarrollado, pero únicamente si este periodo de tiempo aún no ha finalizado:







  • This morning I have drunk three coffees. Esta mañana me he tomado 3 cafés: utilizo en este caso el "present perfect" si el periodo de la mañana aún no ha terminado. 





  • Ya que si este periodo hubiera finalizado habría que utilizar entonces el "past simple":







  • This morning I drank three coffees.Esta mañana me tomé tres cafés: nos indica que la mañana ya finalizó. 





  • Otro uso típico del "present perfect" es para describir acciones que empezaron en el pasado y que aún no han finalizado:







  • I have lived in this city since 1980.He vivido en esta ciudad desde 1980: implica que sigo viviendo en la ciudad. 
    I have played tennis since my childhood.He jugado al tenis desde mi infancia: y sigo jugando





  • Si la acción hubiera ya finalizado entonces habría que utilizar el "past simple":







  • I lived in this city for 10 years. Yo viví en esta ciudad 10 años: pero ya no vivo ahí. 
    I played tennis for many years. Yo jugué al tenis muchos años: pero ya no juego. 





  • El "present perfect" se forma con el auxiliar "to have" en presente del indicativo (simple present), más el participio (past participle) del verbo principal:







  • I have listened to the news.Yo he escuchado las noticias
    She has watched TV.Ella ha visto la tele





  • La forma negativa se forma con la partícula de negación "not" entre el auxiliar y el verbo principal, y la forma interrogativa se construye con el auxiliar al comienzo de la oración, seguido del sujeto y del verbo principal:







  • I have not done my homework. Yo no he hecho mis deberes. 
    Have you been to Seville?¿ Has estado en Sevilla ? 


    Simple Past / Present Perfect

    Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.
    1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
    B: I don't know. I (see, never)  that movie.

    2. Sam (arrive)  in San Diego a week ago.

    3. My best friend and I (know)  each other for over fifteen years. We still get together once a week.

    4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write)  ten very creative short stories in the last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.

    5. I (have, not)  this much fun since I (be)  a kid.

    6. Things (change)  a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start)  working here three years ago, the company (have, only)  six employees. Since then, we (expand)  to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

    7. I (tell)  him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander)  off into the forest and (be)  bitten by a snake.

    8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss)  the bus this morning. You (be)  late to work too many times. You are fired!

    9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never)  the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

    10. How sad! George (dream)  of going to California before he died, but he didn't make it. He (see, never)  the ocean.

    11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become)  much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip (be)  very rough and often dangerous. Things (change)  a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

    12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change)  since the last time I (see)  you. You (grow)  at least a foot!

    13. This tree (be)  planted by the settlers who (found)  our city over four hundred years ago.

    14. This mountain (be, never)  climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try)  to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever) . The climb is extremely difficult and many people (die)  trying to reach the summit.

    15. I (visit, never)  Africa, but I (travel)  to South America several times. The last time I (go)  to South America, I (visit)  Brazil and Peru. I (spend)  two weeks in the Amazon, (hike)  for a week near Machu Picchu, and (fly)  over the Nazca Lines.

    Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change)  a great deal. The first computers (be)  simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not)  much memory and they (be, not)  very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay)  thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do)  very little. Most computers (be)  separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

    Times (change) . Computers (become)  powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create)  a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become)  faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also)  on the Internet and (begin)  communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start)  to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve)  into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.