English Learning Tools 5:Flash Cards

It is often argued that vocabulary is the most essential element of communication. The more words you know, it is suggested, the more you can say and understand.

According to the VistaWide.com site,"the absolute best way to learn vocabulary is through the use of flash cards that you make yourself". "Purchase a set of 3 x 5 index cards", they suggest, "and cut them in half." [This, they argue, makes them small enough to carry everywhere]. Once you have done that, they continue: "Write a vocabulary word on the front and its English definition on the back. As you learn more information about each word (e.g. plural forms of nouns, principle parts of verbs), you can add these to the cards.

There are many ways you can use flash cards as a learning tool, VistaWide.com suggest. For example: "To help you learn and remember noun genders, you can color code the nouns by gender, either by using colored cards or colored ink". When studying, organize words in meaningful groups (e.g., by noun gender, in thematic categories, regular verbs vs. irregular verbs): "Shuffle the cards or groups, so that you use the stack(s) in a different order each time. Use the cards in both directions: first look at the foreign language words and try to recall the English definition. Then shuffle and look at the English definitions and attempt to remember the foreign language words. Flash cards offer many possibilities."

Find below links to: the Vista.Wide.com article of flash cards ; a website that provides already prepared flash cards for free; and, HospitalEnglish.com's page containing some sample Medical English Flash Cards.

Links:
Flash Cards [VistaWide.com]
Free ESL Flash Cards [eslflashcards.com]
Free Flash Cards [HospitalEnglish.com]

English Learning Tip 4 :Don't Overdo it

While it is important to study in order to learn English, a number of experts warn that you should not try and do too much at one time. In short, the message is: Don't Overdo It!

"Studying 15 minutes per day", the people at EGO-4U argue, "is more effective than studying 2 hours once every week."

"For a whole week", they suggest, "try studying 15 minutes each day. Not less. And definitively not more than that (even if you could)".

"You will see", they add, "that the following day, studying is much more fun, simply because you didn't push it to the limit the day before".

Their message: Know when to stop before you start.

Link:
Don't Overdo it [EGO-4U]

Medical Websites:AllHealthCare.com

AllHealthCare states that their aim is to bring people together...
"to provide resources and services to advance careers and take advantage of everything a community site has to offer. News, education resources, job search, career networking, advice, and mentorship are just a few of those benefits."

AllHealthCare is part of the Monster Worldwide The site aims to help its users improve their job searching, improve their health related knowledge by reading their many guides. It enables users to search for jobs or request references and network with other healthcare professionals and those interested in the healthcare industry by joining a group, starting a discussion, or sending a gift.

Link:
AllHealthCare.com

Medical Computer Games:Hospital Tycoon

According to the MobyGames.com web site, Hospital-Tycoon, ,is a level-based hospital management simulation where players can start on an empty building, and then assemble rooms with all kinds of material, from desks and file cabinets for the general diagnosis to the expensive ultra-scanners and x-rays to diagnose such bizarre diseases such as 'chimpanzeesis' or 'stressozombieac', and treat them with more or less bizarre machines like a normal hand pump. There several additional rooms, such as a staff room for your employees to rest, a research department to get the most advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies and a training room where consultants can teach a thing or two to rookies, making them capable doctors. The size and layout of each room can not be freely chosen but instead you've access to different room layouts like a 4x8 or a 12x12 to the available space. These rooms also come with a changing cubicle and a desk with a computer. Whatever additional medical item you place inside that room, defines it's function. So if you place a operation-table into it, it will automatically become a surgery. In addition to rooms, the player must provide seating for patients, vendor machines and generally a nice environment.

Find below links to the MobyGames web site where you can details about the game and how to buy it online; and, a website where you can download the game for free.

Links:
1. Hospital-Tycoon-Product Details-[MobyGames.com]
2. Hospital-Tycoon-Download-Links-[twistysdownload.com]

English Learning Tips 3:Treat Yourself

As I noted in my last post, setting goals is a good way of Learning English. It is important however to stay motivated to meet the goals you set. One way of doing this, according to a number of websites, is to treat yourself when you have reached your goal or done what you have set out to do. As the English-Grammar-Online-4U web site notes:

Everybody notices what you failed to do. But nobody appreciates what you succeeded to do. That's rather frustrating, isn't it? Appreciation is always a good motivation. And if nobody else appreciates your efforts, you'll have to do it yourself.

Therefore, they suggest, after setting a target / goal for day, the week or the term "also set a reward for yourself that you can look forward".

For example. if you achieve the goal you have set, they suggest, you might treat yourself to:

• a new computer game
  
• a visit to somewhere special
  
• a short trip to London

If it's a long-term target, they suggest, write your reward down on a piece of paper and hang it up in a place where it catches your eye. This sure will be a good motivation. Find below links to the EGO4you.com site on treating yourself to a treat; and an article on 'giving yourself motivation with rewards' from ESLTeachersBoard.com

Links:
1. Treat yourself to Something Good [EGO4U.com]
2. Give Yourself Motivation With Rewards [ESLTeachersBoard.com]

English Learning Tips 2:Set Yourself Achievable Goals

According to the LEO Network website, one good way of learning English effectively is to set yourself achievable goals. Among the goals they suggest you could set are:

* Join an English course (and attend regularly).
* Do your homework.
* Read a book a month.
* Learn a new word every day.
* Visit an English speaking forum every day.
* Read a news article on the net every day.
* Do 10 minutes listening practice every day.
* Watch an English film at least once a month.
* Follow a soap, comedy or radio or TV drama.

Have a goal to aim for, it is suggested is better than simply just drifting along hoping that improvements in your English will occur magically. Find below links to: the LEO Network article that mentions Goal setting; some hints about how to set goals on the SimplyESL.com website; and an online Lesson and Quiz from the site CanadianImmigrant.ca

Links:
Set Yourself Achievable Goals [Leo Network]
Goal Setting [SimplyESL.com]
Setting Goals for Learning [CanadianImmigrant.ca]

Medical Compter GamesTheme Hospital

According to the information on the Moby-Games website, Theme-Hospital "is a level-based hospital management simulation where players have to start on an empty building, and then assemble rooms with all kinds of material, from desks and file cabinets for the general diagnosis to the expensive ultra-scanners and x-rays to diagnose such bizarre diseases such as Bloaty Head, Slack Songue or Alien DNA, and treat them with with even more bizarre machines like an Head Inflator or a DNA fixer."

"There are", the website notes: "several additional rooms, such as a staff room for your employees to rest, a toilet so that patients don't have to relieve themselves in the corridors, a research department to get the most advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies and a training room where consultants can teach a thing or two to rookies, making them capable doctors. The size and layout of each room can be set by the player, according to the available space. In addition to rooms, the player must provide radiators, seating for patients and drink machines".

Find below links to the Moby-Games website where copies of the games can be purchased for downloading; and, a link to a page where the game can be downloaded for free.

p.s. I have been able to successfully download the game from the given website but have been unable to complete the unzipping of the ISO zipped file. If any of you are successful in getting the game up and running, let me know.

Links:
Theme-Hospital [Moby-Games]
Theme-Hospital download links

Message from Simon:ENT's Update and Other News

I am just writing to let you know that there may be a slight problem in making posts over the next couple of days. I am currently in Sharorah and am having problems with my Mobily connect USB [apparently STC is king here!!!]. I will however try my best.

On another matter, I have decided to divide my English Learning Tips into two with one set of posts on 'Tips' and another on 'Tools'. As a result I may change the Headings of some of the posts I have made in the last week.

p.s. the photo to the left is a shot of downtown Sharorah.

English Learning Tip 1:Conduct Learning 'Backlog Analyses

As English Grammar Online 4U notes, it is frustrating that its often "the same mistakes that prevent you from getting that better mark in your English tests". How then can you unlearn those mistakes they ask. One clue, they suggest is "don’t try too much at a time". "Instead", they argue, "concentrate on just one typical mistake. 1. Go through the explanations and exercises in your grammar reference or textbook; 2. look out for that specific grammar aspect; 3.Write down the category, and the,
4. start unlearning it.

This process, they suggest, can be called 'backlog analysis'. The term 'backlog analysis' comes from the field of business and refers to 'unfinished work or orders that have been received but are either incomplete or in the process of completion'. [see: dylanwan.wordpress.com] To help in the process of analyzing your 'backlog' of unaddressed English errors, English Grammar Online 4U have provided a Backlog Analysis Checklist you can unload [see below. They have also provide a link on their website to some discussions of some the most common recurring errors English learners make [e.g. some/any and much/many, negative sentences and pronouns.

Find below links to 1. EGO4U's Backlog Analysis Form; 2. EGO's List of Typical English Mistakes; 3. The LEO Network [LEON]'s List of Common Mistakes and Confusing Words in English and 4. A series of Tests and Quizes devised by the LEON to help you analysis whether you understand these issues or nor.

Links:
1. Backlog Analysis form(PDF format)
2. EGO4U's List of Links to Typical English Mistakes
3. LEON's Mistakes and Confusing Words in English; and
4. LEON's English Mistakes Tests and Quizes

English Learning Tools 5:Board Games

Another way to make learning English more fun is to practice your English by playing board- games. A board-game, as Wikipedia notes, is "a game in which counters or pieces that are placed on, removed from, or moved across a 'board' (a premarked surface usually specific to that game)" .While good old fashioned commercially available board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Risk and Cluedo [a murder mystery game] are fine for practising English you can also find on the market board games specifically designed to help students improve their English [the most well know of these being 'Word Up' [see picture to the left].

While games such as Monopoly, Cluedo and Word Up will end up costing anywhere between 60-100 Riyals, you can also download a whole range of board games from the internet for free from the various ESL [English as a Second Language] sites. The Board Games on these sites are often ideal for improving ones communicative English grammar, structure and vocabulary. They often include high quality printable game boards and rules and are aimed at 'beginner', 'pre-intermediate' and 'intermediate' level students. To play most of these games, you will need dice and chips [made of plastic ..not potatoes].

Finally, it is worth noting that one can find on the market a number of games with medical themes. Perhaps the most famous two of these are Pandemic and Medical Monopoly. While in the former [Pandemic], players are supposed to help each other control outbreaks of diseases around the world and search for cures against them, in the later [Medical Monopoly] you play a doctor running a hospital attempting to get more patients by being skilled at diagnostics and spending your funds wisely on acquiring the right kinds of drugs, equipment and organs for transplants, etc...

Find below links to some of the free online board games at the Lantern Fish and ESL Galaxy websites; a link to a site where you can download some board-games designed to accompany the Let's-Talk series of ESL textbooks; and a zipped file of four sample 'free' games.

1. Lantern Fish ESL Board Games
2. ESL Galaxy.com Communicative ESL Board Games
3. 'Let's-Talk'-Board-Games,
4. 'Conditionals', 'Past-Tense-Talk', 'Cutting-Edge-Revision' & Let's-Talk-12

English Learning Tips 4:Personal Word Journals

According to John's ESL Community web site, one of the key things you need to, on the one hand, express your thoughts, ideas and feelings clearly, and on the other, be understood by those to whom you are speaking, is a good vocabulary. According to them, the best way to improve your vocabulary is to read as reading, they argue, "introduces you to words and phrases that are used regularly by native speakers". As you encounter these words and phrases, they suggest, you should write them in a personal word journal and then try to use them in an original sentence. Once you are sure you are using the word or phrase correctly, practice using it by writing more sentences using the word or phrase in different contexts and/or using it in a conversation.

While writing a word down on paper can be a tedious [ie. boring] task, there are a number of tools and software on the web to make the process if not easier then at least a bit more interesting. With respect to tools for example you might check out the Vocabulary Builder tool on the John's ESL Community site itself [see the first link below. In terms of software, you could download the_SuperMemo software developed by our friends at _antimoon.com. A link to a site where you can download the software and read some information on the software and how to use it is also located below.

Links:
1. John's ESL Community Vocabulary Builder [read the instruction first then click on the link in blue at the bottom]
2. antimoon.com's_SuperMemo_software link and instructions

Subject Resources:Mid-Term Exam Update

I have been having some emails regarding the subject of the exam and I am pleased to announce that I have decided that the topic that will be covered by the exam will be - as might be indicated by the picture to the left - the mouth. As a result the text and the listening for the exam will focus on the mouth as will the majority of the questions. As always, if you have any questions please phone or send an email. It would appear that at least some of you are able to leave messages on the blog so remember that that is always an option. Please remember if you send an email [and it is not abusive] to write your name and let me know which class you are in.

p.s. Today's message comes from Abha - a very nice city indeed.

English Learning Tools 3:Good English-English Dictionaries

According to our friends at antimoon.com, the most important thing that you will need when learning English is a good English dictionary. "Successful English learners", they write, "use their dictionaries all the time — that's how they learn to use new words". The adjective 'good' here is very important. "If you get a good English dictionary", the antimoon.com note, "you will be better than 90% of English learners." As they note while you may not believe it, "... most people (even people who want to learn English very much) simply go to a bookstore and buy the first dictionary they see.

So what, according to antimoon.com, should you be looking at when going to buy a dictionary? In brief, they note, it..
1. ....has to be an English-English dictionary.
2 ...must give phonetic transcriptions (pronunciations) for every word.
3. ...must give example sentences for every word, and,
4. ...should be a software dictionary.
With respect to using the dictionary, they note that "if you want to improve your speaking/writing ability", then it is important to remember to read the example sentences in your dictionary. These, they note, "...show you how to use a word and they program your brain with correct English".

Find below links to: 1. antimoon.com's page on Dictionaries and learning English; 2. a comparative review of dictionaries for English learners by Tomasz P. Szynalski; and 3. some links to some of the online editions of some of the most highly recommended dictionaries.

1. antimoon.com's page on Dictionaries and learning English;
2. a comparative review of dictionaries for English learners; and
3. Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary Online
Longman's Dictionary of Comtemporary English
Merriam-Websters Online English

EMP Web Resources:Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day: Health

Larry Ferlazzo is an English Language Educator who has been running a web site - larryferlazzo.edublogs.org - with the aim of providing a source for self-access by students. Many classes at the school in which he works it, including their daily after-school ESL computer lab. His hope is classes [and students] throughout the world will use it, too.

While Ferlazzo has broken up his site into a number if different topics, the one of particular interest for Medical Students in that entitle 'Health' [see the link below]. Under this heading you'll find links to lots of health related information sites - most of which have both text and audio. While some of these are fairly simple, many have quite valuable health related information in simple and easy to understand English.

Links:
Health [LarryFerlazzo.com]

English Learning Tools 2:Adventure Games

One interesting and fun way to learn or improve your English is the play Adventure Games. According to the ESL site antimoon.com, Adventure Games are "a kind of computer game which is similar to a movie. There is always a story and the main character (usually a person, such as a detective or a pirate). The difference is that you don't just watch — instead, you control the main character . You use your mouse or keyboard, and your character moves around in the game world, looks at things, picks them up, uses them, and talks to other character. Your character also talks to you. For example, when you tell him to look at something, he will tell you what he sees. You can then use this information to decide what to do next."

According to antimoon.com, as an English learner, "you want to see and hear lots of English sentences. Adventure games are ideal, because they are based on dialogue. Your character talks to himself, talks to you and talks to other characters. Everything depends on dialogue." When you play an adventure game, they suggest:
1. You program your brain with good English.
2. You improve your understanding of spoken English
3. You improve your pronunciation.
4. You increase your motivation.

Look below to find links to: the Antimoon.com introduction to the use of adventure games in learning English; the web site for "The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island" (one of the adventure games recommended by AntiMoon); a site where you can download a copy of "The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island" using rapidshare; and, a site with links to free online Adventure Games:

Links:
Learning English with Adventure Games [Antimoon.com]
The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island" [official site]
"The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island" [rapidshare]
Free online Adventure Games [AddictingGames.com]

English Learning Tools 1:Graded Readers & Audio Tapes

As the British Council notes in their page on their use, Graded Readers or ‘Readers’ are books "that have had the language level simplified to help second language learners read them. The language is graded for vocabulary, complexity of grammar structures and also by the number of words. They are made to cater for all levels from beginners through to advance." They are particular valuable if they come with an audio tape so that you can also try to improve your listening ability. Many publishing house produce graded readers and they can be a useful way to improve your English and also your knowledge of world literature. I have included below links to the British Councils' page on Graded readers and a download link to one such reader [with audio] from the great American 19th century short story write Edgar Allen Poe. If you'd like to know more about Graded Readers or some links to other books, please let me know.

Links:
Using Graded Readers [British Council]
Sample Graded Reader: Edgar Allen Poe File 1 File 2

Message From Simon:Holiday 'English Learning Tips'

Dear Guys, Hope all is well. I am just writing to thanks those people who have contacted me about my traffic accident [a 'mishap' would be a better word. Both the car and myself are fine. On another matter I wanted to let you know that over the next two weeks I will try and post a series of 'English Learning Tips'. Students have been asking me "how can I best improve my English" and my answer is always the same: "People learn in different ways so you need to find the best ways that suit your learning preferences". The tips I will put forward over the next couple of weeks won't suit everybody but it is just possible that some of them may suit you. If you have any questions please send and email, phone or check out if I am on Skype [my Skype name is: simon.combe]. For now, be good and happy...drive safetly!!

Subject Resources:Sample Mid-Term Exam

Find below a link to a copy of a Sample Mid-Term Exam. The Sample Exam is based on Unit 1 [ie. The Skin] and the answers can be found in the Powerpoint for that Unit. The exam will consist of 30 questions and you will be given 60 minutes to do it. The listening will be played twice only.

Please note that the text and listening for the real Mid-Term exam will not come from the textbook. It will instead come from another source and be on a topic [ie. [part of the body] not covered in class. I will let you know what part of the body will be covered in the exam as soon as I decide which part it will be.

Link:
Sample Mid-Term Exam

Lecture Powerpoint:Unit 3: The Lungs

Please find below a link to the final version the Powerpoint for Unit 3 on ''The Lungs''. Please note that the version posted in an updated version of the one presented in class today. I will post the audio later this evening.

Link:
Unit 3: The Lungs

Lecture Extras:Present Indefinite Tense - Wh - questions

To follow up on today's discussion of 'wh' questions you may wish to visit the 'wh' exercises at angelfire.com. A usual, you might find it of some value to look at other pages on the site. If you want to look at the source for the material in the Powerpoint on 'wh' questions visit elfnet.com here.

Link: angelfire.com: 'wh' questions

Lecture Extra:Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives

As a follow up to today's discussion of the rules regarding the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, check out the link below to the Study Zone page on the topic set up by English Language Center of the University of Victoria in Canada and try their online exercises at the bottom of the page.
p.s. The Study Zone actually has lots of information and exercises for students of all levels. Check it out if you have the time.
p.p.s. The material for the lecture came from the eflnet.com web pages. To have a look at this material and their exercises, go here.

Link:
University of Victoria: Comparatives & Superlatives

Lecture Extra:Video: The Lungs

Find below a link to the video I attempted to play in class on Wednesday. Please be warned that there is an image of a woman speaking on the video. I will try and remember in future to let you know if I am about to show a video with a similar image. The point of showing you the video is to let you practice the progress you have made with lung related vocabulary and listening during the last couple of days. If you like the dieo you can download an AVI version of it by following the second link.

Link:
Youtube Video: The Lungs
AVI Video: The Lungs

Lecture Extra:Video: The Human Skin

Please find below links to a Youtube video on the structure of the human skin and an AVI file of the same video. If you have any problems accessing either, please let me know.

Links:
Youtube Video: The Skin
AVI Video: The Skin

Lecture Extra:Video: The Ear

Please find below a link to a a short video on Youtube entitled "Journey Into The Ear". As with the Video on the lungs posted earlier this week, you can use this video to check out your ear related listening comprehension with a voice other than mine. If you'd like to download an avi of the video there is a link for that as well.
p.s. I will try and post an AVI the lungs video ASAP.
p.p.s watch out for a video on the skin as well.

Links:
Youtube Video: The Ear
AVI Video: The Ear

Lecture Extras:Tag Questions

As a follow up to a Grammar issue raised in the Unit Lecture/Theory classes, check out the following links to Tag related activities.

For general introductions to Tag questions go here and here.

Links:
EnglishZone.com
a4esl.org 1 2
eflnet.com

EMP Web Resources:UHK:Medical Terminology Web

To test out your knowledge and or familiarity with the components of medical terminology check out the 'Medical Terminology' website of the University of Hong Kong English Center. Designed primarily for students majoring in Chinese medicine, dentistry, medicine, and nursing, the pages show a selected list of the frequently found terms that students may encounter in their readings and lectures. As the site notes, the lists and exercises are not meant to be comprehensive however it is hoped that the website will help students recognize technical terms so that they can later use them correctly.

Link:
UHN: Medical Terminology Web

Medical Online Dicitonaries:CAA Medical Terms Dictionary

For those of you still wanting to explore the construction of medical terms and in particular their roots, prefixes and suffixes, you may want to check out the Dictionary being constructed by Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc at the link below. The Dictionary is a work in progress.and attempts to present a listing of prefixes, root words, and suffixes, and the basic rules to combine these terms. While they note that they have tried to make the information as accurate as possible, they warn that this listing should be used as a guideline only.

Link:
CAA Medical Terms Dictionary

Online Medical Journals:The Lancet

Lancet is a peer-reviewed general medical journal, published weekly. One of the world's best-known and most respected general medical journals, with editorial offices in London and New York, The Lancet was founded in 1823 by Thomas Wakley, who named it after the surgical instrument called a lancet, as well as an arched window ("to let in light"). In addition to the general issue [ie. The Lancet], there is also the speciality The Lancet Infectious Diseases, The Lancet Neurology and The Lancet Oncology , there are also links to Specialty Collections , Series , Audio and Conference resources.

Link:
The Lancet

Medical Online Resources:MedicalRounds.com

MedicalRounds.com is a website offeringmultimedia on-demand medical educational material. There are hundreds of free, current, and topical medical presentations for people to view.

MedicalRounds webcasts presentations and conferences for many contributing medical groups. All talks are originally presented at recognized quality grand rounds or professional educational meetings. You can use the search engine to find a talk of interest, browse through the available presentations by category or group.

Link:
MedicalRounds.com

Workshop PowerpointUnit 3: Examining A Patient

Please find enclosed the final of the Powerpoint Presentation and Audio for the Unit 3 Workshop on 'Examining A Patient'.

Link:
Powerpoint: Unit 3
Audio: Unit 3

Online Medicine Resources'The Terminology of Health and Medicine': Companion Site'

As I am sure you know, there are hundreds of English language textbooks on the market aimed at Medical students. What you may not know is that many of these textbooks also have companion sites on the web which provide many resources that are useful for students anting to improve their medical knowledge and English at the same time.

One such site that you may find useful is the companion site to the textbook ''The Terminology of Health and Medicine A Self-Instructional Program'' by Jane Rice. With web based resources for each of the 15 chapters in the book covering such subjects as medical terminology and the various systems in the body, you can find 'Multiple Choice', 'True or False', 'Fill in the Blanks', 'Essay Questions' and 'Glossaries'

The link below is for the Chapter 1 Resources. Click on the downward arrow in the link bar to scroll down to the links to the resources for the other chapters.

Link:
The Terminology of Health and Medicine' Companion Site'

Lecture Homework:Unit 3: The Lungs

Before next class see if you can do the following activities from the textbook linked below. Please note, while this is not a compulsory activity and your work won't be checked, try and spend just a little time on it.

v. Crossword

EMP Web Resources:About.com

One of the more consistent contributors of ESL material of the web is Kenneth Beare, who has been contributing articles, activities and other things for both English Language Teachers and students on the About.com site - esl.about.com since 1997. In his posting one English for medical Purposes, Bare presents dialogues focusing on the English you'll need if you visit the doctor, or if you work in the medical profession. Each dialogue includes a key vocabulary section, as well as a follow-up comprehension quiz.

Link:
About.com: English for Medical Purposes

EMP Web Resources:DoctorSecrets.com

Not strictly speaking a 'English for Medical Purposes' web resource, Doctor Secrets nontheless aims to provide information for Doctors and Doctoring in a language that is - to borrow the words in its slogan - ''clear, simple and quick''. Sites like these are interesting not only for the information they provide about medical problems but also because it are sites like these that patients / people in the public visit before visiting doctors.

Link:
doctorsecrets.com

ESL Web Resources:Arab-Eng.org

As mentioned in class there are lots of sites on the web that allow you to download and have a look a English language learning resources. One such site in Arabic is Arab-Eng.org. To sample what they have to offer check out the links below to an English Language Learning Video Series called ''English For You - EFU'' and ''Upstream'' an Upper Intermediate Audio : English e-Learning course

p.s. rapidshare accounts, by the way, are easy to get in Saudi Arabia - well worth the money!!

Links:
''English For You - EFU''
''Upstream''
Arab-Eng.org

Lecture Extras:File Unziping

As mentioned in class today, it is possible that some of you are having problems getting the audio from the blog because you do not know how to 'unzip' the files you download. The ZIP file format allows me to both compress and archive my files.

To read more about zipping and unzipping files see here. To choose from a variety of unzipping options go to filehippo.com and scole down to the Compression and Backup options. My preferred program is 7-Zip, but many prefer WinZip.

EMP Web Resources:EnglishClub.com

According to the EnglishClub.com web site [according to them the ] ''..patients come in all different shapes and sizes. They also speak many different languages.'' Whether you are working abroad or at home, there will come a time when you will need to rely on English to communicate. The pages produced by them, they state: ''...can help nurses, doctors, pharmacists, paramedics, receptionists, specialists or even those who volunteer. They will help you learn some basic English expressions and vocabulary related to the medical field. By studying and practicing Medical English, you will be able to make your patients feel more comfortable, and have a better understanding of their needs. You will also learn how to talk to their loved ones and communicate with other medical staff who speak English.''

Link:
EnglishClub.com

Online Journals:Nature

This week's online journal is Nature - one of the most prominant and prestigious science journals around. First published on 4 November 1869, Nature publishes original research articles across a wide range of scientific fields - including medicine. In many fields of scientific research, important new advances and original research are published as articles or letters in Nature. As the article on Nature in Wikipedia notes: Research scientists are the primary audience for the journal, but summaries and accompanying articles make many of the most important papers understandable for the general public and to scientists in other fields.

Link:
Nature

EMP Web Resources:BusinessEnglishSite.com

While there are a number of sites specifically for Hospital and/or Medical English, many genral ESL student sites also have pages devoted to the type of English needed by Doctors and Medical staff. One such page is that produced by the BusinessEnglishSite.com. These exercises are for doctors (and other health-care professionals) looking to practice medical terminology (or to speak to patients in a more natural way) as well as for patients who want to communicate better with their physicians. All their exercises (except the beginners' exercises) are meant for intermediate-Advanced, although.

Link:
BusinessEnglishSite:Medical English

Lecture Extra:The International Phonetic Alphabet

To prepare for this week's discussion of the sounds of English and the International Phonetic Alphabet have a look at the table on antimoon.com's site.

The table contains all the sounds (phonemes) used in the English language. For each sound, it gives the symbol from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), as used in phonetic transcriptions in modern dictionaries for English learners — that is, in A. C. Gimson's phonemic system with a few additional symbols. Sound files are included.

Link:
The International Phonetic Alphabet

Message from Simon:Classes for Saturday 7th November

Dear Guys, I have had a few phone calls about the classes tomorrow. Because some of you want to watch the football match tomorrow afternoon, I have agreed to hold a class for Group 6 from 8:oo to 10:30 in the morning.

If you do not want to attend that class you can either come at your normal time [ie. 2:00-4:30] or to the 11:00-1:30 class. Basically I will be around all day so hopefully no one will miss out.

For now, be good and happy,

Simon

Textbook 2:English_In_Medicine

Please note that a new [and improved] jpeg version of the textbook for the practical/workshop classes ''English_in_Medicine'' is now available at the link below.

Please note however that the file is 25.64 mb so may take some time to download. please also note that for those who want to purchase the book that copies are still available at bookshops in Jeddah, Mecca and Taif.

Link:
English_in_Medicine

Lecture Extra:Hearing and the Ears

How about trying to utilize your newly acquired ear and hearing related vocabulary by visiting the BBC's Science & Nature: Human Body and the Mind website and looking at their information on the Nervous System and Hearing. Check out the interesting little animation while you are there and see how sound travels through the ear.

p.s. click on the 'OPEN NEW GAME' link on the animation image for and interesting and hopefully educationally instructive experience!!

Link:
Science & Nature: Hearing

Lecture Powerpoint:Week 4: The Ear

Please find below the final copy of the Powerpoint Presentation for the Unit 2 Lectures on the topic of The Ear. A copy of the audio in mp3 format is also included.

Link:
Lecture Powerpoint Unit 2: The Ear
Lecture Audio Unit 2: The Ear

Lecture Extra:Passive Voice

To read more about the Passive Voice covered in today's lecture check out the information on the englisch-hilfen.de/en (Learning English Online) site.

Among the topics covered on the site are:
Active and passive forms in the most common tenses
Active sentence - Passive sentence (two objects)
How to form the passive and
Personal Passive - Impersonal Passive

While there, check out the 'Passive Tense' online exercises here.

Link:
Passive Tense: englisch-hilfen.de

Workshop Powerpoint2: Taking a History 2

Please find below links to the final copy of the Powerpoint Presentation [ and Audio [ for the Practical Class / Workshop for Chapter 2 of the textbook 'Taking a History 2'.

Please note that the final copy of the Powerpoint for Unit 1 has been uploaded along with a zipped file containing the audio. Go back here to get them.

Link:
P/W4: Taking a History 2:1
A/W4: Taking a History 2:1

ESL Web Resources:Randall's ESL Listening Lab

The Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab is a listening Web site created by Randall Davis to help ESL/EFL students improve their listening comprehension skills through practice with self-grading. It has listening activities activities for students of various levels [Easy, Medium, Difficult, Very Difficult] and links to a variety of other sites operated by Randall Davis including Daily ESL, ESL Blog, EZSlang, Train Your Accent and Tips For Students.

Link:
Randall's ESL Listening Lab

Online Medical Journals:JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association

JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world.

Founded in 1883 by the American Medical Association and published continuously since then, JAMA publishes original research, reviews, commentaries, editorials, essays, medical news, correspondence, and ancillary content (such as abstracts of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report). [Wikipedia]

Link:
The Journal of the American Medical Association