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Traveling the World September 24, 2015

Milton from Colombia writes in an informal style about his dream of traveling:

I don’t have a [particular] place where I would like to live.  Even if I had the possibility to live in one place, I would prefer to travel around the world.

Jamaica, Italy, France, Spain, Canada, Egypt, Hawaii, Peru…These are some of the countries I want to visit, and why not?  If I had the possibility of living in those countries, I would [seize] the opportunity.

I mean that the country or the place isn’t very important to me…only a beautiful place and a nice partner.  You know, you select the moment and you will do fine.  That is the finality of life.

Travel2

This post continues the extensive list of phrasal verbs that you can use when you speak and write English.  There are a lot of others that you can find in our previous blog posts.  We invite you to take our ESL classes at New York English Academy to learn these and many more:

“When will your flight take off?”  [Depart; leave]

“The new Broadway show really took off!”  [Became popular or successful]

“Please take off your coat and stay awhile.”  [Remove]

“I’m hungry and we have only a short break.  Let’s get something to take out.”  [Eat away from the restaurant; for example, fast food]

“The children took their parents out for their wedding anniversary.” [Paid for their dinner, entertainment, etc.]

“He tore into his friend when he discovered that he was cheating.” [Became very angry with]

“After they sang “Happy Birthday’, they tore into the cake.”  [Started to eat greedily]

“Please tear up that document when you have finished reading it.” [Destroy by ripping]

“The city is going to tear down that old building next year.” [Remove; demolish]

“Many people think back on their childhood when look at old photos or get married.”  [Remember]

“You should think it over carefully before you make a decision to buy a car in New York City.” [Consider]

“Don’t throw away your glass bottles; you can recycle them.” [Place in the trash]

“Her life turned around when she came to New York and learned to speak English fluently at New York English Academy.” [Improved greatly]

Turn around and look at the beautiful sunset!” [Look in the opposite direction]

“How did your party turn out?  Did a lot of people attend?” [Result]

 New York English Academy

Category : English Grammar

Kitty Needs Employment September 17, 2015

Ernest from France has written a very imaginative story about his cat named Madchat .  (His ESL teacher has checked spelling, grammar, and punctuation, offering corrections with light editing):

Madchat remembers when one morning he woke up with a severe headache, but he went to work as usual.  However, this day all went wrong for him.  He, who was considered the best manager in his factory, felt that something was coming.  He, who was appreciated by his boss, felt something the sense of which he did not understand.  He was feeling down, and when he looked around him, nothing gave his happiness or even pleasure.  “What is happening to me and why do I look at my life and my job without joy?  Why?” he asked himself.

The next day and in the following days, his negative feeling continued.  Then, Madchat went for advice to his doctor, who said to him that he was stressed.

Madchat remembered the night that followed his meeting with the doctor.  He heard a sweet, friendly woman’s voice saying to him, “How does he think about our life?  How could he fix his life?”  The next morning he woke up and something had changed.  His nerves had calmed down.  He thought again about that woman’s voice all day.

A few weeks later, Madchat decided to quit his job.  Instead, he opened a small bookshop.

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            Today his work gives him a lot of satisfaction because his shop is known by many people [and he runs a successful business].  Madchat is happy to share his cheerfulness!

New York English Academy instructors will help you improve your English skills in every area: speaking, listening, spelling, punctuation, grammar, reading, and – perhaps the most challenging of all – writing!  Teachers at our various levels will guide you in a number of styles of writing, whether for business or pleasure!

 New York English Academy

 

Category : Student Essays

City, Suburb, Countryside September 10, 2015

Do you like living in a city, suburb, or the countryside? Why or why not?  Federica, who came from Messina, Sicily, shared her thoughts on this topic.  (Her ESL teacher had checked her spelling, grammar, and punctuation and offered corrections with light editing):

I like in a small town in the South of Italy.  Sometimes I think that is perfect for me.  I know all of my neighbors; the stores are [very] close to my house; there isn’t [much] traffic; and there is a great sense of community.  But often I have thought that it is so boring because nothing happens.  Maybe this is the reason [for me] to move myself [interesting expression!] from a small town to a metropolis like New York.  I like meeting different people from many countries and [hearing] different languages.

City

I love the architecture of [New York City].  It isn’t clean [the author’s opinion!], I know, and it is noisy, but it is called “the city that never [sleeps]” for this reason!  I love walking in the street and raising my eyes to the sky to see the tall buildings.  It offers something new to do at all hours.  It’s so big, but there is a lot of public transportation to move [around] every part of the city.  It is [sometimes] not safe, especially in [certain] areas.  All big cities have [positive and negative aspects]; you have to take the best things!  At this time, I prefer to live in a big city.  Maybe, when I am old and tired, I will move to an isolated and quiet place like the countryside!

New York English Academy instructors will help you improve your English skills in every area: speaking, listening, spelling, punctuation, grammar, reading, and – perhaps the most challenging of all – writing!

New York English Academy

Category : Student Essays

This post continues the extensive list of phrasal verbs that you can use when you speak and write English.  There are a lot of others that you can find in previous blog posts, and there will be yet more to be published in future posts.  We invite you to take our ESL classes at New York English Academy  to learn these and many more:

“I’m going to send this book back to the online store because it is damaged.”  [Return]

“We would like to set a meeting up for this time next week.”  [Arrange; put together]

“The criminal set his victim up for a serious accident.”  [Tricked]

“To find good discounts, you have to shop around, visiting a number of stores.”  [Find the best price]

“He bought the expensive car to show off to his friends how successful he was in his business,” [Demonstrate, usually in boastful manner]

“The children like to sleep over at their cousins’ home.” [Stay overnight]

Sleep

“She has so many problems that she has a difficult time sorting them out.” [Resolving]

“If you stick to your lessons, you will learn to speak English very well.”  [Continue]

“We should try to stick with one another as we walk through the crowds in Times Square.” Stay together]

“I’m going to switch around the furniture in my living room.” [Rearrange]

“Please switch off the air conditioner when you leave your apartment for the day.”  [Turn off (the power)]

“I had to switch the lights on so that I could see my way to the bedroom.” [Turn on]

“She really takes after her big sister.” [Imitates; resembles]

“Many children like to take toys apart, then put them back together again.” [Disassemble]

“If those shoes are defective, you should take them back to the store for a refund or an exchange.” [Return]

New York English Academy

Category : English Grammar