Lecture Extras:Video:The Kidneys

Please find below a link to a video on The Kidneys

Link:
1. Video: The Kidneys

Lecture Powerpoint:Unit 5: The Kidneys

Please find below a link to the final copy Powerpoint Presentation for Unit 5 on The Kidneys'. I will try and post the audio file later today.

Links:
Powerpoint Unit 5: The Kidneys

EMP Web Resourses:MedicinePlus: Videos of Surgical Procedures

This page provides links to prerecorded webcasts of surgical procedures. These are actual operations performed at medical centers in the United States since January 2004. The videos last an hour. Among the procedures included are: a Aortic Aneurysm Repair, a Carpal Tunnel Release, and a Partial Nephrectomy

Most of the videos, especially those dated after July 15, 2007, are in Flash format. You will need Flash to view the programs. You can download the flash players at www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer.

Some of the videos dated before July 15, 2007 are in RealPlayer; you will need the latest version of RealPlayer to view the programs. If you do not have Real Player, you will be prompted to obtain a free download of the software before you view the presentation. You can download the RealPlayer media player at www.real.com.

One of the great advantages of these videos is that transcripts are provided for most programs if you cannot understand what is being said.

Links:
1. Videos of Surgical Procedures [medicineplus.com]

EMP Web Resources:The Learning Edge: Health Features

The 'Learning Edge' in an interactive online newspaper produced by Ontario's Wellington County Learning Centre in Canada which aims to provide residents of the County with a ''vital learning service and with information about literacy issues''.

Each of the first four issues of 'The Learning Edge' contained 'health features' which contained texst and audios along with quizzes and other learning activities. The subjects covered were:

• Men & Vegetables;
• Depression;
• Menopause; &
• Eating Less Meat

Link:
1. The Learning Edge [thewclc.ca]

Medical Online InformationWellsphere

Wellsphere’s mission is ''to help millions of people live healthier, happier lives by connecting them with the knowledge, people and tools they need to manage and improve their health''.

Recognizing that ''each person has their own unique health questions'', they developed a model that ''combines personalized information and social support to help people address their individual concerns'. After, what they claim to be 'extensive research and development', Wellsphere launched WellPages, powered by its innovative Health Knowledge EngineTM, ''enabling users to quickly and efficiently find comprehensive, personal answers and support for their specific health needs – all on one personalized webpage''.

Among the 'Featured WellPages' on Wellsphere are: Breast Cancer, Treatments for Lower Back Pain, Organic Chocolate, Getting Kids to Eat Healthy, Foods for Diabetics, and How to Stop Migraines. Otherwise you can just enter your topic of interest and they will create a 'WellPage' for you.

Link:
1. www.wellsphere.com

Medical On-Line Information:Introduction

Over the next couple of weeks I will be posting links to a number of medical on-line information sites. These are sites that are aimed at providing information for members of the general public about medical problems they might be facing; medical procedures and test they might be undergoing; and, hints abouty how to live longer and healthier lives.

Apart from providing you an insight to what patients may know about their real or imagined conditioned, such sites also often provide clear straightforward information about a wide range of medical issues.

As always however, it is always wise to check who runs these websites. While many are set up by Government bodies and/or Doctors associations, some are set up by drug companies and other interests groups pushing particular types of solutions for or, perspectives on medical problems.

It is worthwhile noting also, that websites of this kind might be helpful to you in preparing your final oral exam!!

Workshop PowerpointUnit 5: Investigations

Please find below a link to the final copy of the Powerpoint for the Unit 5 Workshop: Investigations. A link to the audio is also available. As always, these files can also be gt from me if you bring a flash drive/memory stick to class.

Link:
Workshop Powerpoint: Unit 5
Workshop Audio: Unit 5

ESL Podcasts:ESL-Pod

I noted a couple of months ago, a podcast is an audio file you download from the Internet. After you download it, you can listen to it on your computer or on an MP3/portable music player (for example, an iPod or iRiver). You can also subscribe to many podcasts so that they are delivered to you automatically each day, just like a newspaper.

One of the most impressive podcasts aimed at English language learners is ESLPod. ESLPod.com is run by a team of experienced English as a Second Language professors with over 30 years of high school, adult, and university ESL teaching experience. Dr. Lucy Tse writes scripts and story ideas for the podcasts, and records many of the dialogs and stories. The host for the podcast is Dr. Jeff McQuillan, who helps read the scripts and provides explanations for them.

In addition to the podcast, the ESLPod site produce Learning Guide for every podcast. The Learning Guide is an 8 – 10 page guide which includes:

• Complete transcripts (ESL Podcast and English Café)
• Definitions
• Sample sentences
• Comprehension questions
• Additional explanations
• Cultural notes &
  
• Tips on improving your English

Link:
1. eslpod.com
2. ESL Podcast 164 - Seeing a Specialist

EMP Web Resources: The Human Body

A fun site from apples4theteacher.com 'The Human Body' is an animated trip through the human body. While meant primarily for children under 12, you might find it of interest given that the voices heard are those of children and, as usual with most of the sites I have posted, you can read as you listen.

You might even think about sharing it with your younger brothers and sisters so that they can have an idea of what you are studying!!

Link:
The Human Body [apples4theteacher.com]

Medical Online ResourcesLiteracy Net: Visiting the Doctor

Visiting the Doctor is a page on the Literacy Net website. This is web site for ESL students. ''If you have recently come to the United States from another country'', they note, ''a visit to the doctor can be a strange experience. Not only is there new language, but customs may seem be different as well.''

''With this web site'', they state, ''you can practice the language you need for getting medical care''. You can also send in your own writing on health topics and see it published here. Among the links in the site are: Dialogues, Readings and Puzzles.

''Choose an activity'', they state, ''and have some fun!''

Links:
1. Visiting the Doctor [LiteracyNet.org]

Lecture Extra:Prepositions

As The Writing Center site University of Ottowa website notes, the preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition.

UA preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence as in the following examples:

- The book is on the table.
- The book is beneath the table.
- The book is leaning against the table.
- The book is beside the table.
- She held the book over the table.
- She read the book during class.

As the UO's Writing Center Site notes, in each of the preceding sentences, a preposition locates the noun "book" in space or in time.

Find below links to the The Writing Center site; and, some Preposition exercises from world-english.org and better-english.com.


Links:
1. What is a Preposition [writingcentre.uottawa.ca]
2. English Prepositions Exercises [world-english.org]
3. Prepositions [better-english.com]

English Learning Tools:10 Word Searches

One of the best tools to help you improve your vocabulary is the Word Search. Word Searches involve you - surprize, surprize - searching for words hidden on a grid of letters. The words may be found running right to left, left to right, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

In order to maximize the benefit gained from doing the search, think about checking the definition of the words before you begin to search for them and say them over along with the definition in your head while trying to find them.

Please find below links to an couple of online word search puuzzles, and a site where you and make your own word search puzzles.

Links:
1. Online Word Search Puzzles [johnsesl.com]
2. Lanternfish ESL Word Searches [bogglesworldesl.com]
3. Word Search Puzzle Maker discoveryeducation.com]

Lecture Homework:Unit 5: The Kidneys

Before next class see if you can do the following Word Search Homework activity from the textbook. Please note, as usual, while this is not a compulsory activity and your work won't be checked, it would be good if you could try and spend just a little time on it. Also, if you have time, try and have a look at the reading before class.

Lecture Extras:The Final 'S'

Following on from today's class, here are some general rules from factmonster.com for spelling plural nouns.

For most words in the English language, all you have to do to make a plural is to add an 's' to the end of the word. So:

a table one cake a planet

becomes becomes becomes

two tables three cakes many planets

If the word has a consonant before the final 'y' then the plural ends with 'ies':

bully pony canary

becomes becomes becomes

bullies ponies canaries

If the word has a vowel before the final y then you just add an 's':

day delay survey

becomes becomes becomes

days delays surveys

That said, factmonster.com notes:

• that certain English nouns change a vowel sound when they become plural. [eg. goose, geese; man, men; mouse, mice; and tooth, teeth].
  
• some nouns don't change at all when they become plural [eg. deer, fish, sheep, and species]; and,
  
• A few nouns have plural forms that are left from Old English. e.g. child, children and ox, oxen].

Find below links to some information on the spelling of plural nouns from factmonster.com and spelling.hemscott.net; and some quizzes from grammar-quizzes.com and usingenglish.com.

Links:
1. Spelling Plural Nouns [factmonster.com]
2. The Spelling of Plural Words [spelling.hemscott.net]
3. Editing Nouns and Verbs for Final -S / -ES [grammar-quizzes.com]
4. Spelling Plural Nouns [usingenglish.com]

Lecture Extra:Frequency Adverbs

Frequency adverbs are adverbs that state how often something happens or someone does something. The most common frequency adverbs in English are [roughly]:

Always – about100% of the time
Frequently - about 90% of the time
Usually - about 80% of the time
Often - about 70% of the time
Sometimes - about 50% of the time
Occasionally - about 40% of the time
Seldom - about 20% of the time
Rarely - about 10% of the time
Never - about 00% of the time

Find below links to the eslgold.com site on 'frequency adverbs' quoted in the Powerpoint; two sets of 'frequency adverb' exercises each from englisch-hilfen.de and the British Councils' learnenglish.org.uk site; and, a Frequency Adverbs Multiple Choice from esl.lbcc.ca.us

Links:
1. Frequency Adverbs [eslgold.com]
2. Position of Adverbs of Frequency Exercies [englisch-hilfen.de] 1 2
3. Frequency Adverbs Game [learnenglish.org.uk] 1 2
4. Frequency Adverbs Multiple Choice [esl.lbcc.cc.ca.us]

Lecture Powerpoint:The Liver

Please find below a link to the final copy of the Powerpoint for Unit 5 on the Liver. A Link to the audio is also included. I have also also included some new recordings of the audios for Units 2 & 3. The video for the week can be found here.

Link:
Powerpoint Unit 4 The Liver
Audio: Unit 4 - The Liver
Audio: Unit 3 - The Lungs
Audio: Unit 2 - The Ears

Mid-Term Exam:Mid-Term Exam Paper Review Results

As promised, I carried out a careful review of the mid-term examination papers today taking into account submissions made by a number of students with respect to certain questions and the way they were answered. As a result I have increased the marks of a number of students and these results will be reflected in a revised list of the marks in the next couple of days. The results when published will be the final ones.

Please have a look at the answers to the questions that were posted last week here and try and determine where you made the errors you did. As the final 'theoretical' exam will be closely modeled on the one you have just done, if you managed to address your learning gaps, then your chances of getting a much better mark in the next exam will be much greater. As always, if you need my help in trying to address some of these gaps, just ask.

Workshop Extra:Medical Tests

As you will have noticed, there are references in this weeks Workshop / Practical Classes to a series of medical tests - some of which you may not have heard of. Find below some links to in formation about some of these tests. I'll post some more later in the week

p.s. sorry about the cartoon to the left but it is directly related to this weeks topic. A DRE by the way is a digital (finger) rectal examination.

Links:
Barium Meal; X-Ray examinations; Creatinine; ECG (electrocardiogram); IVP (intravenous pyelogram); MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging); Radioisotope; Serum cholesterol; Serum thyroxine; Urea & Electrolytes Test; Uric acid test; Urinalysis

Mid-Term Exam:Paper Review

I just want to let you know that I will be undertaking a review of all the exam papers tomorrow [Sunday]. While I doubt that many of you will find much happiness in the review [I am generally a careful marker], there is a possibility that some of you will receive new marks.

The reason for the exam paper review however is actually not to see if I have made any mistakes. What I aim to do is to find out which questions you had particular problems with so that I can try to address some if these learning gaps in class.

That said, I think I need to say that I was not particularly worried about the exam results and felt that they were a fair representation of students English abilities. I would also like to remind you that if you have any concerns about aspects of your English, I am more than happy to speak with you about them anytime.

EMP Web Resources:Interactive Health Videos

I just came across this set of resources hosted by our friends at Medicine Plus. The tutorials interactive health education resources from the Patient Education Institute. Using animated graphics each tutorial explains a procedure or condition in easy-to-read language. You can also listen to the tutorial with the text provided.

The videos are divided up into sections under the headings: Diseases and Condition; Tests and Diagnostic Procedures; and, Surgery and Treatment Procedures and the tutorials listed [and there are nearly 100 of them are tutorials on: Angina, Bronchoscopy, and, Managing Stress.

While the information in the videos is intended for the general public, they provided accurate information in clear easy to understand English and have the added advantage of having text to read as you listen.

Links:
1. Interactive Health Videos [MedicinePlus.com]

EMP Web Resources:Mouth Power

As you are now all experts on the mouth, check out the online game - Mouth Power -from the US's National Museum of Dentistry.

Find out how to keep your mouth fresh. ''What is the secret to a healthy smile?'' Mouthie asks, ''Taking good care of your teeth!''.

Explore Mouthie's online laboratory to learn how to brush your teeth, what tobacco can do to your mouth, and how to make healthy food choices.

Link:
1. Mouth Power [National Museum of Dentistry]

EMP Web ResourcesEdHead Animated Surgery Simulations

To unwind after the exams how about trying your hand at doing a bit of [virtual] surgery! You can do this by checking out some of the animated operations available at http://www.edheads.org/.

Edheads aims to help students learn through educational games and activities designed to meet state and national standards. They partner with various school systems in the United States, which 'help them research, design and test their activities every step of the way'. Edheads has been recognized by almost every major award on the Web for heir excellent educational content!

Find below links to their: Virtual Hip Replacement; Virtual Hip Resurfacing; Deep Brain Simulation; and Virtual Knee Operation activities. Explore the site to find other activities and virtual simulations. There are also links to: Glossaries, Surgery Videos, and Interesting People in these various fields you might find useful.

Links:
1. Virtual Hip Replacement [EdHeads.org]
2. Virtual Hip Resurfacing [EdHeads.org]
3. Deep Brain Simulation [EdHeads.org]
4. Virtual Knee Operation [EdHeads.org]

Mid-Term Exam:Some Comments on Particular Questions

Thanks for coming to the exam today. Just in case your are a bit confused about the answers to some of the questions, I thought I'd comment on just a couple of questions which were answered incorrectly by quite a few students.

Q1. Line 1 which: changing the composite of food - while I accepted 'the digestive process' the answer is clearly 'changing the composite of food'. According o the sentence, the digestive process starts with changing the composite of food which in turn begins with the teeth and the chemical effects of saliva. .

Q5. Line 18 which: an obvious exterior depression - it was necessary to write the whole expression. Writing 'an obvious exterior' was not enough. The word 'depression' after all is the noun.

Q8. The process of economic change affects all our lives. it is definitely 'process' but I allowed 'creating' because of the confusion caused by the 'of'. Creating is a verb, the better word would have been 'creation' which is the noun

Q26. Who does call you every morning? / Who calls you every morning? The 's' in calls was essential.

Q28. All human beings has the skin. / All human beings have skin you needed to remove the 'the' in addition to changing 'has' to 'have'

That's all for now, be good and happy, best wishes, Simon

Mid-Term Exam:Paper,Transcript & Answers

Please find below a link to a copy of the Mid-Term exam paper along with a transcript of the listening and the answers.

I have noted a couple of places where I will accept more than one answer. If you have problems with any of the answers send me an email or write a comment in the comment section of the blog. I will explain the reasons for the answers in class.

Have a good weekend.

Link:
Mid-Term Exam: Paper, Transcript & Answers

The Mid-Term Exam:Last Words

I am still having phone calls about the exam in which people are asking about things that I thought I had covered clearly in class.

Just so that all is clear, the following points should cover all questions:

1. The exam is on Tuesday morning at 8:30 and will last 60 minutes.

2. There will be 30 questions which will consist of:

- 5 'what do these words refer to' questions based on the passage;

- 5 'complete these sentences' questions with words / expressions drawn from the passage;

- 5 'multiple choice' questions based on the passage;

- 5 'true/false' questions based on the passage;

- 5 'true/false' questions related to the listening; &

- 5 'correct these sentences' questions drawn from the first three chapters of the textbook.

3. The reading and listening will focus on the mouth.

Find below links to the stmep.blogspot.com posts related to: the mid-term sample paper based on chapter 1; the original post on the topic of the exam;

Links:
1. Sample Mid-Term Exam [stmep.blogspot.com]
2. Mid-Term Exam Update [stmep.blospot.com]

English Learning Tips:Don't Panic - Its the Same for Everyone

As you know, five of the questions in tomorrow's exam will involve listening. Listening, as the S-Cool.co.uk web site has noted, ''is probably the area where most students feel they are weakest. ''You can't'', they note, ''revise this topic very easily at home and it's far more daunting than a normal written exam''.

Their message however is: ''Don't panic - it's the same for everyone!'' Exams, they note, vary across boards but essentially they are testing your ability to understand a variety of whatever language you are learning across different topics, different styles. Questions range from fairly straightforward simple answers to much more complicated ones. You may have true/false questions, gap-fill exercises, multi-choice questions, or full sentence answers .

Usually, they note, you will be required to listen to a recording then answer some questions. Always check with your teacher what type of exams you can expect.

Finally, the three suggestions they offer to improve your listening in exams are:

• don't panic
  
• practice
• listen out for key words
• read the questions carefully to focus your listening

Find below links to the the S-Cool.co.uk website page on Listening for exams; a list of 100 ways you can improve your English Listening for TOEIC Exams from Using English.com; and a whole stack of listening quizzes from esl.About.com.


Links:
1. Listening Exams [S-Cool.co.uk]
2. How to improve your TOEIC listening [UsingEnglish.com]
3. English Listening Quzzes [esl.About.com]

From The News Room:Families Told to Do More to Curb School Brawls

Families told to do more to curb school brawls
Suleiman Al-Diyabi | Arab News

TAIF: The level of violence in schools in Taif has reached an unhealthy high with teachers also on the receiving end, something that has now led to many schools calling on families to help curb the problem by reining in their children.

Teachers say the violence that is plaguing schools in the Taif area is affecting students’ education. High school teacher Abdulah Al-Qarni said teachers used to be well respected and that this is not the case nowadays. “Teachers are no longer respected.

Not a week passes without us hearing about fights in schools. I think part of the problem lies in the amount of violence children see on TV and in video games,” said Al-Qarni.

“It is scary to hear about mass brawls among schoolchildren,” added Al-Qarni, who like other teachers in the Taif area is often threatened by students who fail their examinations...

Came across this story this morning in the Arab News. I hope I don't need to worry!! To read the full story, flow the link below.

p.s. a good way to improve your English is to try and read your local newspapers in English everyday. The online edition of Arab News. is a good place to start.

Link:
Arab News: Families Told to Do More to Curb School Brawls

Message from Simon:Good Luck With Your Exams

Dear Friends, Just a quick message to wish you good luck with your exams this week. I'm sure you'll all do very well [just joking].

On another matter, I've had a few phone calls this week from students asking about the Practical Exam.

Please, note - and I have said this more than a number of times in class - THERE IS NO PRACTICAL ELEMENT TO THE MID-TERM EXAM.

The only exam will be the one on Tuesday.

See you there!!!

Lecture Extras: Unit 4Video: The Liver

Find below a link to a short Video on the The Liver.

p.s. for those of you worried about such things, there are no representations of living people in the video.

Links:
Video: The Liver

Lecture Extras: Unit 4Main Verbs

As noted in this week's lecture, the main verb expresses the main action or state of being of the subject in the sentence and changes form according to the subject: singular, plural, 1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person.

Find below links to: the article from the LEO Network the main verb referenced in the lecture; another article on main verbs from EnglishClub.com; and, two quizzes on Main verbs from Argo217 & EnglishClub.com.

Links:
1. The Main Verb [learnenglish.de]
2. Main Verbs [englishclub.com]
3. Main Verb Quizzes: Argo217; EnglishClub,

English Learning Tools: 9Study Plans

How much time do you want to spend each week on your English? According to the EnglishLink.com site it is important to remember that "... if you are going to succeed, you need to make a plan". And, if you make a plan, "you need to stick to it.

In making your plan, they note, it is important to "...make sure you can actually spare this amount of time. Be realistic." Among the questions you might want to ask they suggest are:

* Do you work? If you do, when are you free to study?
* Do you have a family? When do you spend time with them?
* Are you studying full-time? If you do, when do you have free time to study?
* Do you have hobbies that take up your time? Do you use English in your life?

Find below links to: the EnglishLink.com site of study plans [which in turn contains a link to study plan template; and a general Learning Plan Templates from SlideShare.net.

Links:
1. Lets make Your Study Plan [englishlink.com]
2. Learning Plan Template [slideshare.net]

English Learning Tips:9Break Study Time Into Smaller Chunks

According to the Vistawide.com web site, esearch shows that "language students learn more effectively and retain more when they study frequently and for shorter periods of time than if they study infrequently for extended periods of time." What this suggests is that you should break study time into smaller chunks.

"Try to study each day", Vistawide.com suggests..."... and whenever possible, several times a day. This means, for instance, doing a few homework exercises each day rather than doing all homework assignments the night before they are due."

"In addition", they note ..."... there are many otherwise mentally idle moments during the day when you can work in some studying. For example, you can review vocabulary while eating breakfast, recite the alphabet while showering, count your steps as you walk between classes, name as many object as you can in the target language on your to way school, take your vocabulary flash cards with you on a road trip".

"There are many moments during the day", they conclude, "when you can squeeze in a few minutes of practice time. Through the repetition of material, it will be come increasingly familiar, until it eventually becomes an automatic part of your language repertoire"..

Find below a link to the Vistawide.com site

Links:
1. Break Study Time Into Smaller Chunks [vistawide.com]

Workshop Powerpoints:Unit 4: Special Examinations

Please find below a link to the final copies of the Powerpoint Presentation and Audio for the Unit 4 Workshop 'Special Examinations'.

Link:
Workshop Powerpoint: Unit 4
Workshop Audio: Unit 4

English Learning Films :Movies About Medical Students

I noted in my last post that Medical Students might well consider looking at movies with a medical theme. A sub-genre of the medically themed movie is the movie about the lives and activities of medical students. Often comedies, movies about medical students "... have engrossed viewers with sensationalized takes on the lives of medical interns and students."

Find below a links to:a personal list of five films about medical students; a list of films focusing on characters who are medical schools from fancast.com; and, on the issue referred to last issue a list from of the 8 films a Medical student should see.

1. Five Films About Medical School []
2. Medical Students [fancast.com]
2. 8 Films a Medical Student Should See [.com]

Tools for Learning English Extra:Medical Themes Movies

As noted in a previous post one of the best tools you can you to improve your English are English Movies. While there are a number of different types of films you might want to consider watching, a group of films that are of particular interest to Medical students are films with a medical theme. According to the MedIndia.net website, for example:

Movies with medical themes have always made film-watching more interesting. A well-crafted movie dealing with a disease, not only creates awareness, but also creates sympathy for the malady in the society. In the recent past, lesser-known conditions such as 'Dyslexia, Autism and Schizophrenia' have gained ‘mass mileage’ thanks to the exposure they have gained through movies.

For doctors, films which have medical themes are of use because it is often from flims of this type that patients get their ideas about different diseases and the way in which doctors, medical centers work [or not].

See below for links to: the MedIndia.net sit on Medical themed movies; wikipedia.org's artical on medical themes movies; and, AllHealthCares.monster.com's list of the 10 favourite medically themed movies.

1. Movies With A Medical Themes [medindia.net]
2. Medically Themned Movies [wikipedia.org]
3. 10 Favourite Medical Movies [allhealthcare.com]

English Learning Tools 8:English Movies

I noted in the last post that many people have noted that one way to learn English faster is to make learning English fun. While there are lots of ways to do this, one sure way for most people is to learn English through movies.

According to the Antimoon.com site, Learning English by watching movies is learning by input: ...you get lots of correct English sentences into your head. Then you can imitate them and you can make your own sentences.

With movies, antimoon notes, you learn how people speak English.

• You learn what words they use.
• You learn how they say these
• You learn to understand spoken language.
  

Find below links to: the Antimoon.com article on Watching Movies in English; a step-by-step guide showing you what to do to learn English through films; a website devoted to helping learner learn English through movies; and a site which offers to help you learn English through movies for a fee.

Links:
1. Watching Movies in English [antimoon.com]
2. Learning English With Films [polyu.edu.hk]
3. Learning English Through Movies [lingual.net]
4. Through Movies [MovieLearn.com]

English Learning Tips 8:Have Fun

According to the LEO Network, their most important piece of advice is to, above all, Have fun!

"Do something (anything)", they suggest. "If you don't do anything, you won't get anywhere. Make it your hobby, not a chore"

Spend your time, they suggest, on things that interest you:
* if you like cooking then buy an English-language cookbook or find recipes on the net and practice following the recipes;
* if you like watching movies then watch an English speaking movie;
* if you like listening to music, get a movie and watch it; it you like music buy a CD.

Find below links to the LEO Network comments on having fun and a list of things you can do to have fun with English from EnglishClub.com [go to the bottom of the page].

Links:
1. Have fun [LEO Network]
2. Fun With English Ideas [EnglishClub.com]

English Learning Tips 7:Join a ConversationGroup

One of the best ways to improve your English language ability is to join a conversation club or a discussion group According to the SimplyASEP Blogspot: "...learners who belong to language clubs have a lot more opportunity to use their English in an interesting way. They can learn form other members of the club and can also help others to learn too." Further, they note: ".. learners who are involved in a conversation club generally improve faster than those who aren't."

If your interested in forming a convresation group or club let me know and I will do all I can do to help you. Groups can involve people of the same or different levels, be loose or highly structure, be genral or focused on particular interests. Find below links to the Simply ASEP Blogspot's reference to Converstaions Groups; the program of an English Salon that has been running in the American State of Illinois since 2001; and article from the leaders of the same group on how to start a group of your own; and, the online chat room organized by the LEO Network.

Links:
1. Join a Conversation Club [simplyasep.blogspot.com]
2. The Illinois English Salon Program [elginsalon.org]
3. Starting a Conversation Saloon [elginsalon.org]
3. On-Line English Chat Room [LEONetwork.com]

Message from SimonExam Subject Reminder

Dear Guys [and Girls for students from the women's college], I'm just writing to let you know that I posted information about the topic that will be covered in the exam a couple of weeks ago here. The subject as I said then will be the mouth [or 'oral cavity'] and the picture to the left basically is a reflection of what will be covered in the reading and listening in the exam.

On a somewhat different matter, I have included links below to a couple of medical-terminology-books you may find useful. If you have trouble downloading the books you can get them off me in class.

Links:
1. Medical-Terminology-Dummies-[EnglishTips.org]
2. Medical-Terminology:-An-Illustrated Guide-[EnglishTips.org]
3. Medical-Terminlogy-Simplified [English.Tips.org]

English Learning Tools 7:Learning Style Quizes

As noted in the last post, one way to improve your English is to find out what kind of learner you are. The next issue would appear to be therefore how do you do this.

One of the best ways ways to find out what kind of learner you are is to complete a Learning Style Quiz. These can be found both online and in various English Learning textbooks.

Find below links to: a language specific Learning Style Quiz from V A R K -learn.com [n.b. : V A R K stands for: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinaesthetic]; a Quiz from the 1stoped.com website you can download; and, a general Learning Style Quiz from Education Planner.org

Links:
1. VARK English Learning Style Questionaire [VARK-learn.com]
2. How do you like to learn [1StopEd.com]
3. Discovering Your Learning Style [EducationPlanner.org]

English Learning Tips 6:Find Out What Type of Leanrner You Are

Just as there are different ways to get from Jeddah to Taif, there are different ways to learn. One tip put forward by many observers of lnguage learning is that it is useful, as the people at the LEO Network have stated, "to find out what kind of learner you are in order to better understand how to learn more effectively".

While there are a number of typologies of learner styles, most of them make distinctions between: Visual Learners; Auditory Learners; and Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners. Among the other type of leaners that that been identified are: Global Learners, and Analytic Leaners.

While one could write much on this topic, Judie Haynes has noted that while, for example, Auditory Learners are to recall what they hear and oral instructions; learn by listening and speaking; enjoy talking and interviewing; are phonetic readers who enjoy oral reading, choral reading, and listening to recorded books; and, learn best by: interviewing and debating; participating on panels; giving oral reports; and participating in oral discussions of written material, Visual Learners are able to recall what they see and written instructions.; are sight readers who enjoy reading silently or have material presented to them in a video; and learn by observing and with: computer graphics; maps, graphs and charts; cartoons; posters; diagrams; graphic organizers; text with a lot of pictures.

To read more about language learning and learning styles, see the links below to the Leon Networks discussion of the issue; Judie Haynes' article "Teach to Students' Learning Styles" on EverythingESL.net; and,

Links:
Understanding How You Learn [learnenglish.de]
Teach to Students' Learning Styles [everythingesl.net]