ENGLISH GREASE

HOW TO START A CONVERSATION IN ENGLISH?

2012-02-02T04:52:00.000-08:00

It's pretty easy to start a conversation in English but most of elementary students get confused if you start asking: how are you doing? or how's it going? instead of how are you? (widely used) guys, all the question have basically the same meaning, you can answer with a simple: I'm fine, I'm ok (informal), I'm great so follow bellow some examples:

Question: How are you? How are you doing? How's it going?
Answer: I'm fine, I'm ok, I'm great... thanks and you?/what about you?

Hope you guys have enjoyed this tip...

LEADERSHIP

2012-01-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

In a company the employees are really different and the leader needs to know how to deal with every single them, for example:

Competent but needs update: This kind of employee is really good for the company, usually he/she knows his/her task very well but needs motivation to take some courses, read something extra, etc...

Unhappy employee: This is so far the most dangerous to the company and normally if you criticize things get worse than before, you have to get a real conversation with the type and get to know better the reasons for his/her attitude in order to help or not...

Proactive, motivated and with good sense: This is the better one and the company needs to do everything in its power to keep this employee with raise, bonuses, etc... Usually this employee needs to be recognized or at least feel that the company does that.

Hold your future in your hands...

2012-01-22T14:21:00.000-08:00

This is a tip to all my students... Learning English is easy! but if you guys want to get the most out of reading, writing, speaking and listening you have to put your nose down on them and stick to practice or you will fail, don't let your future in anyone hands... keep on practicing and doing what is right, always spend more time

doing what is right then what is wrong... Don't think about the problems you have, everybody has problems you're not alone... and if what you're doing isn't working it means that you have to try a different approach, try a slightly different thing and you'll see a huge result out of it.

We face challenges every single day... Don't Give Up!!!

Thanks

How to break the ice in the classroom

2012-01-12T06:36:00.000-08:00

Being in front of the students in the classroom is not always easy but you can have a different approach in order to "save the day" use the HUMOR but it's need to flow the conversation naturally without forcing anything or people will notice that you're being fake...Don't push the students too hard or will loose all their intrinsic motivation, sometimes you have to go harder on someone but this is not good anyway, remember to use all your HUMOR and if it's not working you can change to a different approach...It's not 100 percent guaranteed but you can reach 80 percent out of 100 and I believe you'll loose more students than gain if you push them all the time...Hope you guys like it!Teacher Valdemar

How to use the simple past

2012-01-10T18:18:00.000-08:00

Lot of students don't get this tense, if you ask to them: TELL ME WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR LAST VACATION? probably they will come up with a lot of sentences in the simple present, this thing happens because to say something in the past you have to change all the verbs so a sentence in the present like: I speak English will be I spoke English yesterday and you have to remember that simple past is always SPECIFIC the action is done... and I don't need to say that you will find a lot of regular and irregular verbs...They can vary, it depends on what verb you need to use, all the regular verbs have an ED ending while the irregular ones you have to pick up a list, my tip: Never learn English from words individually (it doesn't make any sense) you have to create some sentences with them so that way you will understand them better...You never speak word by word in a conversation you use sentences... So, let's practice and don't give up!Teacher Valdemar

American Football at Microcamp

2012-01-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

This was one of the most exciting events that I've ever participated... The English Teachers from Microcamp Bragança Paulista set up an American Football match with the students and they loved it... We can't wait to do it again...

We took the students out of the classroom and we put them on a sand court to practice one of the most popular sports in the United States of all time, they practiced a lot of English... It was really amazing...

2011-12-18T05:14:00.001-08:00

ABC Microcamp, Teacher Felippe, Teacher Valdemar and our CEO... We're heading to the top...

Simple Past

2011-11-01T06:17:00.001-07:00

When we use the simple past tense we usually add ed or ied to the regular verb all the irregular verbs you have to look up to the verb in a list but remember never learn English from words individually but from sentences always apply the words in a sentence so it will make more sense to you, follow some examples:

I spoke English yesterday (it's always specific)
We spoke to john last month

In the negative form we use the auxiliary did + not (didn't) and the verb remains in the infinitive form:

I didn't speak English yesterday - You didn't do your homework - he didn't practice his English, etc...

When we want to ask questions we use the auxiliary did in front of the subject:

Did you speak English this morning?
Yes, I did (short answer)
No, I didn't (short answer)

Did he do his homework?
Yes, he did
No, he didn't

Did they talk about math?
Yes, they did
No, they didn't

Hope you guys like this tip...

American vs British English

2011-11-01T06:17:00.000-07:00

Just out of curiosity I'm publishing this file for you guys to understand a little bit about the differences between American English and British English, I know that one day you will choose between one or another but it's all English in the end, right?

americanvsbritish

Practicing

2011-11-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, one more tip for you to practice your English, hope you guys like it...

Present - Past

Simple Present (still learning)

2011-10-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

Continuing to talk about simple present when we want to ask questions we use a helping verb called: do/does ... How do we use them:

Do you speak English? Do you like to study English? Do you play soccer? Do they speak English? Do we know how to do the exercise? Do I do my homework?

Does she speak English? Does he speak English? Does it happen all the time?

So in the third person of the singular we use the helping verb does, we do the changing in the helping verb then the main verb you keep in the root...

If you want to use in the negative way, you just have to add not to the helping verb like the example below:

I don't like to study math. - she doesn't like to study math. - we don't do our homework. - they don't understand what we say. - he doesn't understand Portuguese.

If we want to ask a negative question:

Doesn't he like to speak English? Doesn't she like to speak English? Don't you like to study math? Don't they like to do their homework?

That's it guys, keep on studying hard...

simple present

2011-10-31T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hi guys I'd like to explain briefly about simple present a tense that most of my students always confuse...

when we have she, he and it... we have to add to the verb: s, es or ies follow an example

he speaks, talks, walks, works, knows, says, plays
she goes, studies, listens
It rains, comes, does

Don't forget always learn English from sentences never from words individually so try to create your own sentences with the words you learn from here this is the best way, more effective to master this language...

Teacher Valdemar

Intrinsic Motivation

2011-10-09T16:15:00.001-07:00

You guys have always to look for your intrinsic motivation (no matter what) it is so far better than extrinsic motivation (which always change our intrinsic motivation) so, NEVER GIVE UP, BE PERSISTENT and always remember:

DETERMINATION CAN OVERCOME ANY DIFFICULT!!!

Modal Verbs

2011-10-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hello guys,

Today I would like to discuss modal verbs, this is very simple... will - would We use will to say something in the future but that it's not scheduled, for example:

Maybe, I will travel to São Paulo tomorrow morning or I think, I will buy another car with would we change the verb tense like: I would like to speak English fluently, I would travel to New Yourk if I had money... (Esse tempo sempre muda o tempo do verbo em português seria algo como: would like = gostaria - would go = iria and so on)

We still have can - could that we always use to tell about abilities (things we can or can't do) and about permissions: Can I go to the toilet, please? so as shall - should (devo, devia)

Hope you guys enjoy this post!
Teacher Valdemar

Simple Past vs Present Perfect

2011-07-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Nós brasileiros sempre confundimos esses dois tempos gramaticais porque sempre que queremos dizer algo que começou no passado mas ainda tem reflexos no presente, usamos o nosso presente: Trabalho nesta empresa a 10 anos em inglês dizemos: I have been working in this company for 10 years... esse tempo gramatical sempre fala de ações generalizadas, porém se eu uso o Simple Past a ação está concluída, exemplo: I worked in this company (trabalhei na empresa e não trabalho mais)

Espero ter ajudado com mais essa dica...

Thanks

First place in the Theater

2011-07-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations!!! You guys did a good job!!!

ABC Microcamp - Theater

2011-06-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

It was my first experience managing some groups and helping them to perform something significantly in front of an audience ( a huge audience), the place was crowded and I have to say that everybody who were there in that day did a great job, obviously we had some problems but they all became minor problems because the students were excited and everything was beautiful...

Nesta foto, estão a diretoria, o sub-tentente (Tiro de Guerra), a Pedagoga da Microcamp e claro os Teachers Valdemar e Felippe (sem esse não teria realizado metade do que aconteceu, obrigado Teacher Felippe)

First Theater at Microcamp Bragança Paulista

2011-06-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

This group could really win the first place but I'm very proud of you guys, though...

Me too, So do I, Neither and Either

2011-04-20T04:15:00.000-07:00

Hello folks...

Hoje gostaria de falar sobre me too, so do I, neither e either... o uso é bastante simples com: me too, concordamos com uma sentença usando o verbo to be, por exemplo... I'm very upset - me too... no caso de So do I concordamos no simple present: I need money ... so, do I ... usando neither: I don't like onions - me neither or I don't either...

Thanks bye

Simple Present

2010-10-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

No Simple Present acrescentamos s, es ou ies aos verbos, então sempre que usamos SHE, HE ou IT mudamos o verbo como no exemplo:

He speaks, She speaks, It speaks, He studies, She studies, It studies, notem que no caso do verbo Study, removo o y e acrescento ies...

He talks, She talks, It talks, He does, She does, It does e assim por diante.

Hope you guys like it!!!

Future with will and be going to

2010-09-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

Vamos conversar sobre o futuro com WILL e BE GOING TO... Neste tempo usamos will para assuntos que não temos muita certeza do seu acontecimento e be going to para eventos certos. Como no exemplo: I think she will help (esperamos que ela ajude, mas pode ser que não ajude) Perhaps, I will buy the ticket to the show; I don't believe he will do it again; Dr. John is going to arrive at 9 pm (evento certo) I am going to buy that shoes; I know you are going to the church

Espero que gostem!
Thank you
King Regards

Present Continuous

2010-09-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hello guys!

Today I'm gonna talk to you a little bit about the Present Continuous with it we need to add ING to the verb, it's quite simple, it means something that you are doing right now, the moment action, such as saying; working; talking; running; speaking, thinking; walking; playing; studying; writing; reading; watching; sleeping; buying; seeing; looking; smiling; taking; returning; being; those words are all examples of this tense, so hope you guys like them and keep on practicing!!!

Slangs

2010-09-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

Hello folks!!

Today I'm gonna talk to you guys a little bit about some slangs we have in English like: What's up? it's very informal way to ask a person how are you? Hello there! another way to say Hi

There are a lot of English accents in USA and if you can travel around some states you will realize that slangs are commonly used among the teenagers and they use different ones in different places...

Regards!

2010-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hi folks, I beg your pardon... this is my very first video explainning a lesson so I was really nervous doing it and even despite my lack of experience hope you like it... I forgot to mention the pronoun It, so just in case you want to know about it... with this pronoun the correct form of the verb to be is: It is rainning out there... you always use is not am or are. Regards

Very/Much

2010-07-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hi folks...

I'm gonna talk about these two words very/much they are commonly confused, let's start with the word very = to indicate what is precise and intensive like: very true, the very best thing in the very best place... and the word Much = before nouns it represents a lot like: too much cake, this is much like the others...

Regards

2010-06-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

Present Continuous Practicing

2010-06-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Guys... hope you like this exercise, as soon as possible I will post my very first video on this blog...

Present Continuous

The verb to be

2010-06-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

English Lesson1

English lesson

2010-06-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

English Lesson2

Motivation

2010-06-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is a video about motivation... because we always lose it when we are facing difficults, trouble and in order to overcome them we have to keep our faith in God and never get off track...It's easy to be confident and motivated when you are on the top but when you don't... don't lose your faith, keep on believing in yourself... that's all you have to do...

Funny English

2010-06-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

English Lessons

2010-04-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Hello folks... i would like to share with you guys this website where you can practice your English, hope you like it... www.englishvox.com.br we have also www.knightsenglish.com where you can have some daily tips about phrasal verbs...

Living in Bragança Paulista

2010-01-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Hello folks!!!

I would like to tell you guys the news... i'm living in Bragança Paulista, now that i got my management degree i hope to reach something good in this city that i love since i was very young when i used to come over here to spend my vacation...

The only thing that i miss is an opportunity to prove that i can be part of this town and live here forever...

Giving Lessons

2009-07-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Olá Pessoal... Gostaria de divulgar que estou disponível aos sábados, então se alguém tiver interessado em contratar os meus serviços fique a vontade para me contatar, ok? 94839859

Hello folks... I would like to inform that i'm available on Saturdays, so if there's someone out there who would like to hire me as a teacher feel free to contact me, ok?

Obrigado
Thanks
Valdemar

Studying Hard

2009-07-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well, when i started to study English i was just a little kid trying to understand what people were saying in the movies, songs, etc... At that time was not easy, i grew up in a kind of danger neighborhood and people over there were always trying to hold me back, saying that i would never speak this language one day, they used to say that i was wasting my time. So, after all these years of practice i`m teaching English nowadays... it`s amazing!!! and if there`s anybody out there who would like to exchange some thoughts about how you learned English, feel free to contact me valdemar30@hotmail.com.

To practice this language i`m always watching movies (sometimes i have to turn into subtitles in order to understand what they are saying), listening to music all the time and speaking to some foreign people, i never let a chance pass me by.

Thanks
Valdemar

phrasal verbs

2009-07-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

I`m always trying to understand and increase my vocabulary learning some phrasal verbs, we have a lot of them with the verb get: get up, get down, get in, get out, get off, get on... So, any one who would like to add a coment to this issue, please, feel free...

Valdemar

My Journey

2009-07-09T09:17:00.001-07:00

Hello folks!

Let me say something about why did i creat this blog? I have been practicing English a long time since i was very young, about 11 years old... i'm 31 and till nowadays i have so much to improve as phrasal verbs and what to say about vocabulary there are so many words out there that i still don't know their meaning.

So, if you want to join feel free it would be my pleasure having people who likes this language to exchange some thoughts and ideas, you know, to master a second language it's not easy when you don't leave your country and people are always speaking Portuguese with you.

Regards
Valdemar