The World According to Facebook

The World According to Facebook

Almost everyone has a Facebook account. It's ubiquitous among teenagers and professionals alike. Hundreds of thousands of companies around the world try to market their products through the popular social-networking website. And while its nice to laugh at videos of babies or sweet kittens, Facebook is also a source of interesting information. Here are just a few of the fun things we at English Matters have learnt over the past week! Posting babies Sending babies by US Post was not illegal in 1913 America. Children would have stamps attached to their clothes and…Czytaj dalej …
World Cup Fever

World Cup Fever

This June, we will be dedicating some time to the FIFA World Cup being held in Brazil. So expect a number of blog posts about the world's most popular sport this month. Let's kick off our series on the subject of football (or, as our US friends call it, soccer) with some interesting trivia about the world's most popular sport. There are an estimated 3.3-3.5 billion fans of football worldwide. Only seven countries have won the World Cup since it began in 1930: Brazil (a total of five times), Italy (four), Germany (three), Argentina and Uruguay (two each),…Czytaj dalej …
The Quick – listening comprehension

The Quick – listening comprehension

Brace yourself for a listening comprehension! Below is an audiobook excerpt from The Quick, the debut book by mystery writer Lauren Owen. The book is already a bestseller and critics have fallen in love with her first work, about a poet who disappears without a trace in Victorian England. Publishers Weekly said The Quick is “Seductive... extraordinarily polished... a book for readers to lose themselves in.” What to do: Read the questions below. Then listen to the audio, paying attention to the time code at the end of each question. Once the excerpt…Czytaj dalej …

English class comedy

Hello, and happy Monday to all of you! Did you ever wonder that some students make really funny mistakes when they are learning English as a Second Language (ESL)? Well one English comedy group though so, and made a little sketch about it! Hope it will make you giggle and be a good way to start your week!Czytaj dalej …
The world’s greatest polymaths

The world’s greatest polymaths

In English Matters 46/2014, there was an interesting article about Vanessa-Mae, a one-time child prodigy who excels in many areas. She is a virtuoso violin player and recently surprised the world by competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics. But she is not the only person who is particularly good in more than one area. Such people are called polymaths, and history has had a few. Renaissance men Perhaps the most famous of the polymaths is Leonardo da Vinci, who was a marvel, even at a time when artists shone in several areas of…Czytaj dalej …

World Myths

English Matters 46/2014 had an interesting article about Norse Myths. In it, the author explained a number of stories and traditions associated with the vikings. Today we'll take a look at some other ancient myths from around the world. Mayans Ixchel was one of the main gods in Mayan mythology. She took the form of an aged jaguar goddess of midwifery and medicine. She was called the “goddess of making children.” The traditional story was that, together with her spouse, she had thirteen sons, two of whom created heaven and earth. She was…Czytaj dalej …

Wordspector Flash game

Test your English with this fun game! Description: Step into the shoes of a genuine Word Detective in this arresting new word puzzler! Solve the Mystery Words with the help of colour coded clues. The less time you take, the more points you’ll make! As the game progresses, the words get longer and the time gets shorter. Can you deduce your way through all 15 levels and earn the coveted title of Word Sherlock? Will you be the one to beat on the International Master Detectives Hall of Fame? Either way, a splendid time…Czytaj dalej …
Michelin stars

Michelin stars

Hello and welcome to the English Matters blog! Here we will be uploading articles which will supplement the material in English Matters magazine. But that is not all. Two or three times a week, we will also be including other information, media, and the occasional game to help you improve your English. If you would like to see something in particular on these web pages, do not hesitate to get in touch with us via this page. We'll do our best to please! ___ English Matters 46/2014 included an interesting story about Molecular…Czytaj dalej …
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