1. Setting and Keeping your Short Term Study Goals

Do you have goals for studying English? Do you know what you want to do in the next few months? What do you want to accomplish? Short term goals can be really helpful because they help you stay focused and motivated. However, it can be really...

Monday, 07 March 2011 | 2342 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

2. She dances pretty or prettily?

Mr.Maru: You are looking happy today. What happened, Sparky? Sparky: I met a girl yesterday. She was prettily attractive. Mr.Maru: Don't you mean pretty attractive? Sparky: Mmm, yeah, pretty attractive. Anyway, she was dressed pretty....

Monday, 21 February 2011 | 3879 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

3. What Every Job Hunter should Know about Power Words

Interviewer: Thanks for coming in to see me today. Sparky: No probs. Interviewer: I see on your resume that you are started studying English when you were only 2. Sparky: Yeah, I was a good learner. Interviewer: Do you have any sales...

Tuesday, 08 February 2011 | 2251 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

4. Be vs. Get for passive voice

Mr.Maru: Sparky, you don't look so good. What happened? Sparky: I was rained on. Mr.Maru: That's not so bad. Sparky: But, I couldn't see where I was going. I was hit by a stroller. Mr.Maru: Well, you should be more careful. Sparky: Yeah,...

Monday, 24 January 2011 | 3748 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

5. What is the difference between inter- and intra-?

Sparky: Where is that video we made the other day? Mr.Maru: It's on the computer. Sparky: I can't find it, where did you put it? Mr.Maru: It's on the intranet hard drive. Sparky: Um, is that on Google? Mr.Maru: No, the intranet. Sparky:...

Saturday, 08 January 2011 | 36499 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

6. What Everyone Ought to Know about Participles

Mr.Maru: Did you enjoy the movie? Sparky: Not really. I got really boring. Mr.Maru: mmm, you usually are. Anyway, let's do something more exciting then. Sparky: Yeah, let's go bowling. It's excited! Mr.Maru: Mmm, yeah. We'll do that. Do...

Tuesday, 28 December 2010 | 2236 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

7. How do you use 'for' and 'since'?

Mr.Maru: How long have you been studying English Sparky? Sparky: I've been studying English since 5 years. Mr.Maru: Wow, for five years? Sparky: Yeah, I started when I was just a puppy. Mr.Maru: That's pretty good. Sparky: I've been going...

Monday, 13 December 2010 | 2545 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

8. Using singular or plural verbs with each and none

Sparky: Let's eat out tonight. Mr.Maru: That sounds like a great idea. Sparky: Where do you want to go? Mr.Maru: We could go to the new Thai place, the Mexican place, or the Italian place on 1st Ave. Sparky: None of those places sound good....

Monday, 06 December 2010 | 4598 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

9. Neither or Either? - Teacher Stumpers

Mr.Maru: What do you want to eat for dinner tonight? Sparky: Let's eat a plate of bacon with some cheese on top. Mr.Maru: I think that isn't very healthy. Sparky: Really? I don't think so, neither. Mr.Maru: Um, right, I think a nice salad...

Monday, 29 November 2010 | 3278 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...

10. My Name is Spelt Wrongly

Sparky: I just got my tickets to Hawaii! Mr.Maru: You are going to Hawaii? Sparky: Yeah, I'm flying out in a couple of weeks. But, they spelt my name wrongly. Mr.Maru: How did they spell it? Sparky: They spelt it S-P-A-R-K-L-Y. I'm...

Monday, 22 November 2010 | 2901 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | More...