I know that your mind is most likely on other things right now, things like viruses, your job, your family, etc. However, from time to time you might want to take a break from all the worry and anxiety of the moment. If you find yourself feeling that way, then perhaps you might want to take a few minutes and practice your listening skills. One of the better websites to use for this is Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab. On this site, there are many listening activities to explore, and you can practice according to your level: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. 

To explore this website, click on the image below. 

Have you wondered exactly what the coronavirus is and how it effects the body? Below is a video explaining more about this fast-spreading virus in English. 

If you would like to complete some activities related to this video, click on the  link below: 
https://www.eslvideo.com/quiz.php?id=34780

With schools closed down most everywhere due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the opportunity to continue learning English face-to-face in a classroom is not possible. However, that does not mean that your learning has to stop completely. There are many things that you can still do to practice your English skills. One of those ways is to use some of the many free apps that are available for download on your cellphone. Some of these include: Hello English, Duolingo, Lingbe, Memrise, busuu, Awabe, Learn English Daily, Beelinguapp, Hello Talk, and English Speaking Practice. 

To learn about each of these apps, click HERE. 

If any of you have ideas of some other apps that are helpful to learn and practice English, please use the contact tool on this page to let me know, and I will gladly share it with others. 

[Excerpt below taken from Englishpage.com]
"The past continuous (also called past progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing past action was happening at a specific moment of interruption, or that two ongoing actions were happening at the same time. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and past continuous exercises."

To read more about the Past Continuous Tense and to practice using this tense, click on the picture below. 

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What are modal verbs?
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Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.
Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:

• They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
• They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)
• They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability

To read more about modals or to practice using modals, go to My English Pages.com

Here are some other links to practice exercises:

• Perfect English Grammar
• English Page

​There are many different reading programs online that can help you to improve your reading skills. One of those is the Marshall Adult Education site. This website is not designed for ESL students in particular; however, it offers some great stories that can help English language learners. To use this site, be sure to click on either Group 1 (Levels .7 to 4.5) or Group 2 (Levels 5.0 to 8.0) under the "Read the Stories Online" heading. 

The Group 1 level is somewhat basic and would mostly be fitting for Beginning ESL students and maybe lower Intermediate levels. Group 2 is more appropriate for High Intermediate or Advanced ESL students. 

Once you click on a group, then you choose any story you want at any level. You might try lower levels first and work your way up. When you click on a story, a box will pop up that will have a pre-reading question and some definitions. At the bottom it will tell you to "Click Here" to read the story. You will be given the chance to read the story a few times, and then answer some questions. You will need to answer the questions on your own paper and in complete sentences. If you have time, write a few sentences in response to Choice B. 

To enter the website, click here: Marshall Adult Education.
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[The excerpt below is taken from partsofspeech.org]

Part of Speech Overview

In the English language, words can be considered as the smallest elements that have distinctive meanings. Based on their use and functions, words are categorized into several types or parts of speech. This article will offer definitions and examples for the 8 major parts of speech in English grammar:  noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, conjunction, 
preposition, and interjection.

To read about each of the 8 parts of speech, click this link: partsofspeech.org

​Or, click here

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Here are some great exercises that you can use to practice identifying parts of speech. 

• Grammar: Parts of Speech
• My English Pages
• Parts of Speech Exercise

​[Excerpt taken from article written by Kenneth Beare and published on www.thoughtco.com]

Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Traditionally, it is a holiday that Americans spend together with their families. Thanksgiving dinner usually includes the traditional Thanksgiving turkey.

Improve your understanding of the holiday by reading the story that follows. Difficult words are explained at the end of each paragraph. Once you have read the story of Thanksgiving, take the reading comprehension quiz to test your understanding of the text.

To read more about the origins of Thanksgiving and to take the quiz, click HERE! 

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[Excerpt below taken from talkenglish.com]

The verb "to be" is different from other verbs in English. "Be verbs" do not show an action. "Be verbs" show a state of being. They act like an equals sign (=) in math.

"Be verbs" are usually followed by a noun or an adjective. A noun is a person, place, thing, or thing. An adjective is a word that describes a noun like big, small, happy, fast, interesting, and annoying. 

Simple present tense "be verbs" are - am, is, are. "Be verbs" go after the subject. Use this pattern with "be verbs":
               Subject + be verb + noun/adjective

To read more about the "be" verb, click here.

To practice using the "be" verb, click on the exercises below:
 

• Practice 1
• Practice 2
  
• Practice 3
  

To practice more, you can find other exercises at this link: https://agendaweb.org/verbs/to-be-exercises.html

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• Attend English class regularly.
• Only use English in class.
• Ask questions in class. There is no such thing as a silly or dumb question. Always ask for help if you don’t understand something, or if you need to know how to pronounce a word.
• Practice English outside of class: make conversation as often as possible at stores, Dr. office, library, work, gym, etc.
• Watch TV and listen to the radio in English
• Watch movies and then talk about them with an English-speaking friend or family member.
• Read books: go to the library and check out “easy reader” books or short stories
• Do your homework regularly and soon after class is over. You will remember more that way.
• Use the computer to learn and practice English. I can provide websites.