Gerund versus infinitive

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence. Examples: • Reading helps you learn English. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE • Her favorite hobby is reading. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE • I enjoy reading. OBJECT OF SENTENCE Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not." Examples: • He enjoys not working. • The best thing for your health is not smoking. 2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence. Examples: • To learn is important. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE • The most important thing is to learn. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE • He wants to learn. OBJECT OF SENTENCE Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not." Examples: • I decided not to go. • The most important thing is not to give up. 3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence. Examples: • Learning is important. NORMAL SUBJECT • To learn is important. ABSTRACT SUBJECT - LESS COMMON • The most important thing is learning. NORMAL COMPLEMENT • The most important thing is to learn. ABSTRACT COMPLEMENT - LESS COMMON 4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive. Examples: • He enjoys swimming. "ENJOY" REQUIRES A GERUND. • He wants to swim. "WANT" REQUIRES AN INFINITIVE

Teaching English-language skills

Music and games in class

Languages for Specific Purposes

Foreign Language Teachers for Specific Purposes have a lot in common with teachers of general foreign language. For both it is necessary to consider linguistic development and teaching theories, to have insights in contemporary ideas regarding their own position and role as well as the position and role of foreign language learners in education and to face new technologies offered as an aid to improve their methodology. The needs to understand the requirements of other professions and willingness to adapt to these requirements differentiate the foreign language teachers for specific purposes and their colleagues teaching general foreign language. ESP teaching presumes teaching of English as a foreign language regarding specific profession, subject or purpose

Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) has been primarily used to refer to two areas within applied linguistics:

1. one focusing on the needs in education and training.

    2.   one with a focus on research on language variation across a particular subject field. 

LSP is a widely applied approach to second or foreign language teaching and training that addresses immediate and very specific needs of learners who need that language as a tool in their education, training or job. And this is the situation we are experimenting in the market now. A lot of professionals are pushed to learn a foreign language because of their jobs. Enterprises sign contracts with other companies and have meetings in a country where English is spoken.For example, In the United States,  nurses who work in hospitals with a high percentage of patients whose native language is Spanish might have to study Spanish for the very specific purpose of communication between nurses and patients.

•The status of English is such that it has been adopted as the world's lingua franca for

communication in Olympic sport, international trade, and air-traffic control. Unlike any other

language, past or present, English has spread to all five continents and has become a truly

global language.“ 

•(G. Nelson and B. Aarts, "Investigating English Around the World," The Workings of Language, ed. by R. S. Wheeler. Greenwood, 1999)

 

 



Syllabus or Curriculum?

 1.- It has more descriptive list of the concepts that will be taught.
2.- It has subjects that need to be taught.
3.- It is developed by school administration.
4.- It is created by each individual teacher.
 5.-It can be used as a guideline for teachers,as many depend on it to develop their coursebook.
6.- It gives Ss an idea of the course schedule.

Which ones do you think are for: curriculum or syllabus?






ANSWER:  1)S      2) C     3)C      4)S        5)C        6)S 

BIG OR LARGE?

 Large is used for describing an item that comes in various sizes and have been previouisly clasified into size categories. For example, If you went into McDonalds and said, 'Man, look at the size of that drink! It sure is large." you would be wrong if it was actually a small or medium or extra-large drink.

 Don't use Large to describe your oppinion.

Small and Big – are these opposites? We are taught that they are. But I  think Little is the opposite of Big. First you're a Little kid, then you're a Big kid – but you may still be small. Big can mean stature, but it can also mean age. Big brother as opposed to Little brother.

Small and Large – I think these are the correct opposite pairing. Although it's not so much "opposites" really as it is a comparison. A size small is not really opposite of size large. It's just smaller. Large and small should be used for sizes or amounts. A large sum of money, a small shoe.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEGIN AND START?

They are  synonyms and mean the same thing.

Synonyms: begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate

These verbs denote coming into being or taking the first step, as in a procedure.
 Begin, commence, and start are equivalent in meaning, though commence is more formal, and start often stresses the point where inaction turns to action:
The play begins at eight o'clock. The festivities commenced with the national anthem. We will stay on the platform until the train starts.
Initiate applies to causing the first steps in a process: I initiated a lawsuit against the driver who hit my car.
Inaugurate often connotes a formal beginning: “The exhibition inaugurated a new era of cultural relations”