Poetry for GCSE English Language

Advantages: Straightforward questions for Foundation level
Disadvantages: Limited guidance for extended essays

...This is a workbook intended for students studying for AQA GCSE English Language, Specification A. Although forming part of the Language syllabus, this is in fact a collection of poems from the AQA Anthology. They are all poems from different cultures or traditions and most are written by non-native speakers; some of the poems, such as 'Half-Caste', feature non-standard English. In total there are sixteen poems, and they are divided into Cluster 1 and Cluster 2, eight poems each. Poems by Imtiaz Dharker and Grace Nichols are featured in both clusters, whilst Cluster 1 also includes poems by Chinua Achebe, Nissim Ezekiel, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Edward Brathwaite, Tatamkhulu Afrika and Denise Levertove. Cluster 2 additionally has poems by Sujata Bhatt, Tom Leonard, John Agard, Moniza Alvi, Niyi Osundare and Derek Walcott. In the exam...

denella 23.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of AQA Anthology Workbook: Poems from Different Cultures: GCSE English at Foundation Level - Various

He, like, doesn't like, GO ANYWHERE - English 101

Advantages: Decent grammar equals clarity and readability
Disadvantages: 'Irregardless of it's imperfections, between you and I, its like totally unique man!'

...UPDATE - 2008. Things haven't really improved over the last few years. I still see reviews, websites, articles and blogs that tell me little except that we are becoming increasingly illiterate. However, there is a glimmer of hope. I have found a few amusing and useful websites focussing on various common errors and annoyances. There's one for "unnecessary" quotation "marks". There are several for apostrophe misuse. Really, you can find a rant somewhere on the web for every common error (and, I suppose, this qualifies as a rant) UPDATE - 2006. As time passes, English worsens. This is a sad, but seemingly true fact. Look around the web. The standard of English amongst supposedly native English speakers and writers is, generally poor. As I've said below, I am not for a moment claiming that my English usage is...

mattygroves 11.07.2002 (08.12.2008) · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on English Language Workshop

Watch your language

Advantages: A telling critique of the manipulation of language for political ends
Disadvantages: Not quite as convincing about the "mangling" of language

...John Humphrys is one of a number of writers and media luminaries who have lately turned their attention to modern trends in the use of the English language. Like most of his confrères, he finds much to deplore. Humphrys' book 'Lost for Words' is aptly subtitled 'The Mangling and Manipulating of the English language'. In 'mangling' and 'manipulating' it encompasses two distinct themes. The first is how clumsy or convoluted usage can rob words of their meaning and impede clear thought. The second is how cynically contrived usage can mislead people and manipulate their thinking. On the first of these themes he is interesting and often amusing, but he says little that is new, and I am not sure that he always gives a fair hearing to the counter-arguments. On the second he is both knowledgeable and powerfully...

torr 09.02.2007 · Read review
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Review of Lost for Words: The Use and Abuse of the English Language - John Humphrys

Speaking Anatomically Correct English.

Advantages: Improves your fluency.
Disadvantages: Can get you very frustrated.

...Idioms are those expressions in every language that cause the learner problems, however a reasonable knowledge of some of these idioms will give you a HEAD START in your eventual fluency of the English language. KEEP YOUR HAIR ON if you find it difficult to FACE UP TO FACTS that it is a very infuriating task at the best of times. Often you`ll stumble across an expression that you`ve NEVER CLAPPED EYES ON before but don`t BAT AN EYELID at it for by the SWEAT OF YOUR BROW you`ll work out the meaning in the end although you might have to RACK YOUR BRAINS somewhat! Of course, it always helps if you`re the sort of person who HAS A NOSE for languages. If not, you`ll probably have to PLAY IT BY EAR at times to work out the gist of the expression but don`t let it get you DOWN IN THE MOUTH as it`s not an easy job at times. Just stick...

bwanamdevu 20.04.2002 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on English Language Workshop

Bible of English language teachers

Advantages: packed with information on almost any possible TEFL scenario
Disadvantages: not so great if you're teaching on a 1:1 basis

...Learning Teaching was one of two set books when I began on my CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) course back in 2007. The other set text was Michael Swann's Practical English Usage. I ordered my copy of Learning Teaching from Amazon and can't now remember the exact price that I paid, although I know that it was notably below the RRP of £19.50. Even at full price, this book is very reasonable as it is very useful and more importantly to me includes a good range of photocopiable materials suitable for use in loads of classroom situations and sometimes you have to pay separately for this. Learning Teaching is written by Jim Scrivener and published by Macmillan Books for Teachers. My copy is the second edition, published in 2005, the first edition was published (according to my book) in 1994. Jim Scrivener is...

M.Newcastle 20.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Learning Teaching - Jim Scrivener

English ...or American...its all greek to me!

Advantages: you can learn what not to say
Disadvantages: you will probably say it anyway

...English vs American Pants are underwear that we also call shorts But shorts are shorts and trousers are pants jelly is jello and jam is jelly your custard is our pudding while pudding is dessert biscuits are cookies but scones are biscuits minus the sugar but add the butter and jellies joggers are sweatpants while jumpers are sweaters jog pants are tracksuits that you guys wear with trainers trainers are gym shoes but shoes are shoes are you getting all this or is it confusing you too? a boot is for luggage we call it a trunk but wellys are for wearing those are our boots a bonnet is a hood under which you put the motor and a baby hat is the bonnet the babys head goes under lets go to fancy dress which we call costumes but i still dont know what you call it when you wear a tuxedo...

mrsxopher 10.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on English Language Workshop

Mountain Language

Advantages: Clear and important political message
Disadvantages: Direct, dim, and disturbing

...Mountain Language (1988) By Harold Pinter (1930- ) Mountain Language is a very short one-act play by the English playwright Harold Pinter. The first scene shows a young woman and an elderly woman as they go to visit one of their relatives who was accused of speaking the forbidden mountain language. The older woman was bitten by one of the dogs in the prison, and yet the officer and sergeant torture her and her companion with stupid questions and harass the latter sexually. We see in the second scene that the elderly woman was in the prison to visit her son. The woman tries to talk to her son with the mountain language she is used to, for she doesn't know the capital language, yet the officer starts jabbing her with a stick. Still, she manages to tell her son that his wife and three kids are waiting for him. In the third scene...

sottovoce82 26.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Mountain Language - Harold Pinter

" How Now Brown Ciao ? "...

Advantages: A good communication device
Disadvantages: No one really knows how to use it

...don’t care for instructions on how to use it by anyone. Never has there a greater leveller than the English language. It doesn’t matter what you wear, who you think you are, or who you are trying to be as soon as you open you mouth, mush, gob, cakehole, your soul is bared to the world. I don’t like the idea of telling people how to use the English language, or what’s more to the point people telling me how to use it ! I read a couple of other reviews on this subject and some stray in to the dodgy area (in my opinion) of telling ME how to speak. If you come round my house and tell me how to speak you will be talking with a fat lip. First things first English is a “B*stard” language made up of Anglo-Saxon, French, Latin Greek, and the list goes on, and not only that it has evolved over...

jouk04 08.11.2006 (28.05.2007) · Read review
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Review of General use of the English Language

English, Johnny English

Advantages: It was very funny
Disadvantages: Story, acting, plot etc

...Although I probably ought to have been revising, one of our tutors told us to take at least a whole day off a week. So a couple of weeks ago, I put impending Finals out of my mind, and spent a constructive Saturday (writing music reviews, playing pool, punting, watching a mate's band play Exeter's 'party in the park', Pizza Hut, cinema, George & Davies ice cream and a friends for relatively late night G&T and chat). So that's where Johnny English fits in to my revision schedule... The choice was X Men 2, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and Johnny English, and you'll know by now which we chose... I knew it was a Bond-esque spy spoof starring Rowan Atkinson, but that was about it. My biggest concern was whether I'd be able to put Mr Bean out of my head - as it happened, not much problem, but I kept thinking of that guy from the Barclaycard...

a-true-ben 03.06.2003 · Read review
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Review of Johnny English (DVD)

Johnny English

Advantages: great entertainment and side splitting comedy
Disadvantages: none

...Director: Peter Howitt Producer: Tim Bevan, Mark Huffam and Eric Fellner. Writers: Neal Purvis, William Davies and Robert Wade. Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, John Malkovich and Natalie Imbruglia This cracking comedy was released in the summer of 2003, the main character, Johnny English, basing himself self on a character originally created for a well known credit card company adverts. Johnny English, (played by Rowan Atkinson both on the adverts and this movie) is a British secret service member, spoofing the likes of James Bond. Unfortunately, he is as competent as Inspector Jacques Clouseau (from the Pink Panther films) which does lead him into some tricky situations. His partner, Bough, pronounced 'Boff', (played by Ben Miller) is the silent hero of the movie, always allowing Johnny to take full credit...

blissman70 27.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Johnny English (DVD)