Free listening activities for ESL teachers, including audio files and matching worksheets and tests.
A powerful tool, provided by the U.S. Department of State's site, American English for English Language Teachers Around the World, to help teachers incorporate English pronunciation into lessons. Resources include the interactive Color Vowel Chart, a teacher's guide, and a webinar on how to teach with the Color Vowel Chart.
Free videos about everyday and interesting courses posted by English speakers around the world for English listening practice.
A free list of hundreds of English tongue twisters and their translations into several languages. A form is available to submit a new tongue twister to the site, which could make a fun student or class project.
Hundreds of free audio lessons, sound files, and quizzes to practice American English pronunciation.
The IPA provides the International Phonetic Alphabet and seeks to promote the scientific study of phonetics and its practical applications. IPA fonts are available on this site.
Free lesson plans and activities for the ESL classroom, including conversation activities and games.
Sounds of Speech, provided by the University of Iowa, provides a comprehensive understanding of how each of the speech sounds of American English, Spanish, and German are formed. It includes animations, videos, and audio samples that describe the essential features of each of the consonants and vowels of these languages. English Sounds of Speech is especially useful for students studying English as a second language. Sounds of Speech English is available as a mobile app, with explanatory text in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean.
Activities at Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab focus on everyday English comprehension skills at three levels of difficulty, based on content, voices, vocabulary, and natural speed. A combination of adult, teenage, and children’s voices are included.
Free ESL pronunciation lessons, handouts, activities, exercises, and tips for teachers.
English pronunciation and speaking help and exercises including International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) guides, lesson plans, and conversational strategies for ESL/EFL classes and teachers.
Plagiarism, put simply, is taking credit for someone else’s work. In academics specifically, plagiarizing is when you write what someone else said/wrote but don’t give them credit for it. Giving credit where credit is due is one of the fundamentals of college writing and not doing so will result in a myriad of unpleasant consequences such as: an automatic “F” either on the assignment or in the class, having to appear before the academic integrity board, undergoing disciplinary actions as assigned by the academic integrity board, and potentially being expelled from the university all together. Professors are constantly keeping a look out for plagiarism in papers, especially in lower level courses like Core Humanities, and do not hesitate in handing over plagiarizers to the academic integrity board. So what’s the best way to avoid the unpleasant consequences of plagiarizing? Simple: don’t do it.
Language proficiency helps determines academic and professional success in today's globalised world. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) validates international opportunities for students and professionals. This powerful synergy between the IELTS Programme at the British Council in Bangladesh and the StudyUK Scholarship provides a path for individuals to turn their aspirations into reality. The British Council has been updating their services catering to the soaring number of students seeking higher education in the UK and other countries.
IELTS: Paving the Path to Global Recognition
The importance of a globally recognised test of language proficiency cannot be overstated in this age of widespread international travel and communication. IELTS, developed by leading experts in the realm of language assessment, meticulously evaluates an individual's reading, writing, listening, and speaking capabilities. With its acceptance spanning over 11,000 institutions across 140 countries, IELTS serves as a testament to one's language proficiency on the global stage.
The British Council Advantage: Elevating the IELTS Experience
While embarking on the journey to conquer IELTS might initially appear daunting, aligning with the British Council Bangladesh elevates the experience to an exceptional level. In 2021, 35,000 people took the IELTS test across the country, and in 2022, that number jumped to 100,000. The British Council's success can be attributed in part to their commitment to providing their customers with a wide range of study materials, multiple test formats, and round-the-clock support.
Both the "IELTS Ready Premium" and "Road to IELTS Full Version" packages provide extensive preparation materials. This package gives students everything they need to Excellerate their vocabulary, take practice tests, get detailed feedback from subject matter experts, and feel ready for the test. However, when it comes to education, the British Council does not simply follow a rulebook; rather, they believe in taking a more comprehensive approach. WordReady, an online resource made for personalised vocabulary learning, is provided free of charge as part of their initiative to better prepare students for the exam.
Amplifying Your Preparation: A Multifaceted Approach
The British Council provides support that goes beyond providing resources because it recognises that effective preparation necessitates an approach that encompasses multiple dimensions. Candidates are given permission to access a variety of free practice tests, which can be found online at takeielts.org/prepare. Those who prefer tangible study aids can order the IELTS Practice Book, which contains demo tests for both the IELTS Academic and General Training exams.
Flexibility and Convenience: A Tailored Experience
The British Council allows applicants to select between paper-based and computer-based exams to accommodate a wide range of learning styles. Since there are a variety of options, candidates can pick the one that best suits their needs in terms of learning style and ease of use.
The British Council also has seven eight carefully chosen testing sites across Bangladesh, which helps with the logistics. Each location is carefully selected to provide candidates with the most comfortable and convenient conditions in which to demonstrate their skills.
Expertise and Integrity to Direct Your Path
The British Council's dedication extends far beyond the details of test preparation. Staff with extensive training and experience are committed to ensuring a smooth testing experience for all applicants. Their friendly professionalism creates an atmosphere where candidates feel at ease to give their best performances.
Each candidate is given five complimentary Test Report Forms (TRF) because they understand the importance of the test scores to the candidate's future. This helpful provision allows applicants to send their scores directly to up to five schools of their choosing at no extra cost.
The IELTS Prize - A winner's tale
Soabiba Soad, a 21-year-old student at Uppsala University, is a shining example of the kind of person whose life the IELTS Prize 2022 could help. Soabiba's aspirations have expanded from self-actualisation to altruism in light of the prestigious IELTS Prize 2022. From the excitement of applying for the IELTS Prize 2022 to the elation of being named the winner, Soabiba's journey, in her words, was "transformative and a whirlwind of emotions."
"Winning the IELTS Prize 2022 ignited newfound confidence in my English skills, leading me to embrace various competitions. This surge of optimism reshaped my outlook, fostering greater optimism and hope for the future," adds the awardee. This surge of confidence transcended language proficiency, as she envisions a future abounding in opportunities, both personal and professional, with fortified resilience.
Championing Dreams with The StudyUK Scholarship
The StudyUK Scholarship acts as a guiding light for individuals who have their sights set on a career in the United Kingdom. The scholarship provides students with academic guidance and helps them navigate UK higher education. The StudyUK Scholarship is modelled after programmes in the United Kingdom that have produced successful graduates and offer essential advice for beginning an academic journey as well as pre-departure briefings to ease the transition.
Charting a Course to Boundless Horizons
The British Council's commitment to aspirations is unwavering, with IELTS as the gold standard for language proficiency and the StudyUK Scholarship guiding UK-bound students. The resources provided by the British Council enable individuals to pursue their dreams and discover a world of boundless opportunity where their dogged determination to succeed determines their ultimate fate.
When analyzing a song there are words that, if understood, can help with development of listening charts. The listening charts throughout American Popular Music give examples of what to look for in specific songs, but not an overview of general concepts that can be applied to any song.
Understanding some basic music terminology can be helpful when interpreting a song’s meaning. These terms can also be used in listening charts to identify patterns and composition styles in songs.
Bar/measure: A part of a song that contains a certain number of beats
Chorus: The part of the song that is repeated multiple times after each verse
Form: The overall structure of a song that uses letters to indicate the pattern of a song
Genre: A distinct group of music with a specific sound
Hook: A memorable musical phrase
Instrumental: A song using just instruments but no words
Instruments: The tools used to make the sounds to create a song
Riff: A repeated pattern designed to generate rhythmic momentum
Solo: A portion of a song or whole song where just one instrument or vocalist is performing
Stanza: A portion of a song, much like a paragraph in an essay
Syncopations: A temporary change in the sound of the song caused by making a quieter beat in a song more prominent
Tempo: How fast or slow the music speed is
Timbre: How intense the sound of the music is
Vocals: The words/lyrics in a song
Starr, L., & Waterman, C. (2010). American popular music. New York: Oxford University Press.
Drexel Graduate Preparation
The Drexel Graduate Preparation program prepares academically qualified students for the challenges of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the American graduate school environment. This program consists of advanced coursework in academic reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as graduate academic skills. Upon successful completion of the program, students may matriculate into their graduate program in the Fall term.
Admission to Drexel Graduate Preparation is by direct application to Drexel University Graduate Admissions only. Master's degree graduate students who qualify academically and need to Excellerate their English language proficiency may be offered provisional admission to study in the Graduate Preparation program.
Students interested in Graduate Preparation are encouraged to submit their documents to Drexel Graduate Admissions as early as possible to allow for the appropriate review.
Half-term (5 weeks): October 27 - December 7, 2023
Half-term (5 weeks): February 9 - March 15, 2024
Half-term (5 weeks): May 3 - June 7, 2024
Half-term (5 weeks): July 26 - August 30, 2024
Program length and start date are determined by the graduate program and the ELC.
Students take 21 hours of class in the four core skills of academic English: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Specialized coursework in English for STEM or English for Media Arts may be offered, depending on enrollment. Students also work specifically on their grammar skills as well as academic study skills. Workshops on Drexel resources and campus life, regular meetings with the Graduate Preparation advisor, feedback from instructors, and free language tutoring also help students maximize their communication gains. A demo schedule is below.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
| 9:00-10:20 | Writing & Grammar |
Writing & Grammar |
Writing & Grammar |
Writing & Grammar |
Writing & Grammar |
| 10:30-11:50 |
Listening & Speaking |
Listening & Speaking |
Listening & Speaking |
Listening & Speaking |
Listening & Speaking |
| 11:50-12:50 | Break | Break | Break | Break | Optional Workshop or Activity |
| 1:00-2:20 | Reading & Vocabulary | Reading & Vocabulary | Reading & Vocabulary | Reading & Vocabulary | Reading & Vocabulary |
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Preparation program, a student's schedule for the first quarter of matriculated study will be determined by the graduate department with recommendation from the ELC.
| 2022-2023 Estimated Costs | Half-term | |
| Application Fee (one-time cost)* | $65 | |
| Tuition | $3,289 | |
| University Fee | $150 | |
| Health Insurance (estimate)** | $600 | |
| Room and Board*** | $2,885 | |
| TOTAL | $6,989 |
All prices are subject to change.
*Required
**Approximate cost. Insurance prices vary per term.
***Includes average costs for housing, food, books, and other living expenses.
Hong Kong has retained its third place International English Language Testing System (IELTS) ranking among Asian countries and territories.
The IELTS measures a candidate’s ability across four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is often used as an English language requirements for jobs and university admissions.
According to the latest study from IDP Education, an international education organisation that provides student placements in different countries, Hong Kong’s average score was 6.5 on a nine-point scale in 2015. It ranked third among Asian countries and territories, followed by Indonesia (6.4), Taiwan (6.1), South Korea (5.9), Japan (5.8) and China (5.7). Malaysia and the Philippines came first with their average score of 6.8. Singapore was not included in the study because there were only a few candidates to take this test, the study explained.
Among all countries and territories, IELTS candidates in Germany obtained the highest average score at 7.3, followed by Greece with score of 6.9.
The study also showed that Hong Kong IELTS candidates did relatively well in listening and reading, with scores of 6.9 and 6.7 respectively.
However, they did not do as well in speaking, where they scored 6.2, and writing, in which they scored a “modest” 5.9.
Modern Education IELTS course director Norman Ng said writing and speaking tests were more challenging than listening and reading. “Hong Kong IELTS candidates are weaker in output skills because you need someone to assess your answers in writing and speaking. But the IELTS overall band of 6.5 is considered a relatively high score, compared to other countries. Although it does not mean the city’s English proficiency has been improved, it indicates that there are a certain amount of people who can master the second language,” says Ng.
IDP IELTS regional manager Patrick Wan Ka-fai said the city’s ranking was behind Malaysia and the Philippines because Hongkongers have fewer chances to use English on a daily basis, and they could not understand the test’s requirements.
“In writing, candidates are not likely to score high if their answers are off topic. Another common error for speaking is the inability to pronounce accurately and speak fluently,” says Wan.
Kelly Mok, an IELTS tutor at King’s Glory Education, told Young Post that local IELTS candidates did not perform very well in speaking and writing because their range of vocabulary was not broad enough. "It's too common to use words, such as ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘nice’ or ‘okay’, which will not impress examiners. When describing statistical trends in writing part one, candidates should use words like ‘exponential growth’, ‘reach a plateau’ or ‘plumment’, to show their mastery of vocabulary use, instead of simple phrases like ‘rise quickly’ or ‘fall slowly’," she says.
