Send your kids to the jungle! To learn English?

Yes, that's the interesting idea behind this innovative approach to learning English - have fun while you learn and enjoy an adventure holiday in the "jungle".

Here's the information (in German):

English & Adventure - Englisch lernen im Dschungelcamp




In den Ferien Englisch pauken und seine Zeit beim Nachhilfeunterricht statt am Badesee verbringen? Nicht gerade die Traumvorstellung eines jeden Schülers. Deshalb bietet Dschungelcamp Neuhaus e.V. (http://dschungelcamp-neuhaus.de/) in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Sprachstudio jetzt Englischunterricht der etwas anderen Art.




"English & Adventure" nennt sich das Programm, bei dem Schüler von zehn bis 14 Jahren ihr Englisch verbessern können. Nach den Grundsätzen der Erlebnispädagogik lernen die Schüler bei aufregenden Outdoor-Aktionen die Sprache praktisch "nebenbei", spielerisch und mit viel Spaß. Los geht es mit einer Kanu- oder Schlauchbootfahrt auf der Rott, gefolgt von einer Stärkung bei einem American Barbecue und spannenden Spielen - auf Englisch versteht sich. Dabei wird stets das Hörverstehen und Sprechen trainiert und neues Vokabular erlernt.




Geleitet werden die English & Adventure Days von der pädagogisch ausgebildeten Englischtrainerin und Übersetzerin Stefanie Eder, Inhaberin der Fremdsprachenagentur Sprachstudio. Mitmachen können alle, die bereits ein Jahr Englisch gelernt haben. Um das Lernerlebnis besonders intensiv zu gestalten, ist die Teilnehmerzahl auf 12 Kinder beschränkt. Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie beim Sprachstudio Stefanie Eder unter www.sprachstudio-online.com bzw. sprachstudio@email.de oder unter 08503/924072 bzw. 08503/8010.

Speak English? Eat English!

Do you want to speak English? Or do you want to eat English?!! Here's a tip so you can finally you can learn how to make the most typical English food, without having to go to England. You can still do that later, of course - there's nothing better than fish'n'chips from the chippy! (= from the fish and chips shop)

British:
How To Make English Fish And Chips With Beer Batter

Penguin Readers - books and audio books for all levels

The "Penguin Readers" collection from the Penguin publishing house are a VERY useful and enjoyable series of books for people learning English.

There are 6 different levels, so you can pick books that are just right for you: You can read the story without a dictionary, because the words and the grammar are at the right level for you to understand. New and difficult words are explained in simple English in the book.

Many of the books are famous novels - they have been re-written to make them easier. Many are the books from famous films. And there is some non-fition, too.

And many of the books have an audio CD. So when you have read the book once and know the story, you can listen to it on CD. This is also good when you are driving, cooking or ironing, for example, because the English is in the background. You know the story already and don't have to listen with your full attention.

Direct Link (English site)

Longman Germany

My tip: Look in the online catalogues above and find the books you want. Note the ISBN number and then take this to your local independent bookshop, who will order it for you. (Support local specialist shops!!)

Are You Smart Enough to Be German?

- take the citizenship test

One good way to learn English is to read English articles about subjects you know well. For example, you could read an English book which you had already read in German. So you know the plot (the story) already. This means that even if you don't understand ALL the words, you can still understand what you are reading.

One subject you probably know very well (if you are one of my German readers)
is ... Germany!! So reading about Germany in English should be quite easy for you.

Try this and see. How well DO you know your country?!!

http://www1.spiegel.de/active/quiztool/fcgi/quiztool.fcgi?id=33093

Welcome

This blog is intended to offer tips and advice for students learning English as a foreign language. I work in Germany, so there will be some tips targetted specifically at German-speakers, but many will be useful for all learners.

The name of the blog comes from the clichéed idiom "it's raining cats and dogs". This is a very good example of something that every foreign learner has learnt in their lessons, although native speakers almost never say it!!

Viel Spaß beim Lesen - have fun while reading

Craig Meulen