False Friends are pairs of words or phrases in two different languages which look and/or sound similar but which have very different meanings. False Friends are sometimes known as False Cognates. Learners will often assume the corresponding word or phrase in the target language will have the same meaning as […]
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Explaining Unknown Words in the TEFL Classroom
One of most common situations a TEFL teacher will find themself in is Explaining Unknown Words. A typical scenario is when a class is working on a text or watching a video and then a student will simply ask what the meaning of a certain word is. They may well […]
Continue ReadingEuphemisms in English
Using a euphemism is a way of hiding something bad, offensive or tasteless behind a good word or phrase. So, for example, instead of saying that someone died, we say they passed away. Instead of saying that a girl is pregnant we might say the girl is in trouble. Why […]
Continue ReadingChoosing a Good Dictionary
For both teachers and students a dictionary is one of the most important books (or apps) you can own. This article offers tips for choosing the best possible dictionary for help in the classroom and with preparing lessons. If you’re buying a dictionary then the best approach is to go […]
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What are Anagrams? Anagrams are simply rearrangements of letters from one word or phrase to make another word or phrase. The word itself comes from the Greek, anagrammatismos, ana- (up, again, back, new) + -gram (letter). For example, the following are a few interesting anagrams. dormitory – dirty room Clint […]
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