Double Negatives: 3 Things You Should Know

Have you ever heard of double negative sentences in your IELTS training? If you have, then you must have been warned that it is wrong to use it in sentences. However, do you know why? Apart from the sentence being confusing for the readers, there are more reasons why double negatives should not be present in your essays.

Double negatives happen when you use two negative words within a single sentence or clause. In English, you should only have one negative each sentence because as two negatives cancel each other out turning a supposedly negative sentence positive.

It may sound confusing, but after knowing how it is done, it is quite straightforward. For a better understanding, let us take a look at these.

5 Patterns That You May Use For Your Speeches


JRooz IELTS Review Center encourages students to practice public speaking to improve the chances of acing one’s speaking test. It is because many people find speaking in front of people nerve-wracking.

If you are one of those people, then here are some organizational patterns that you may use. When making your speech, you need to make your speech flow to improve your public speaking performance and for the audience to understand it better.

Learn How to Proofread Like a Pro with These 7 Tips


When you are proofreading a writing task for your JRooz IELTS Review Center class, you may feel either happy or discouraged. Feeling the former means that you are confident in your work, and you know that you are going to do great, but the feeling the latter means that you are not sure of the things you have written.

Proofreading is finding errors in one’s work. It means that you must scan and correct mistakes. Every proofreader is different, and proofreading is not done only once, but it also is always better to reread and recheck work always. To help you proofread your work better, here are some tips you may check. 

IELTS Review Online Study Hack: Guide to Proper Capitalization

When you come across capitalization during your IELTS general training, have you thought of it as easy? If yes, then you probably already know to capitalize the first word of a sentence and proper nouns. You may be thinking this is not even worth reading. However, you may be committing unconscious mistakes.

Also, there are instances when you don’t capitalize after using a colon or in quotations. There are certain conditions when capitalizing some words. Read on to know how to capitalize words appropriately.

Dependent Clauses: Get to Know Who’s Who (Part 1)


Clauses are the building blocks of sentences. A clause is defined as a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. During your IELTS UKVI review, you would encounter two types of clauses: the independent and the dependent clause.

An independent clause, also known as a simple sentence, has a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought. On the other hand, a dependent clause doesn’t express a whole idea and is not a complete sentence. 

A dependent clause always needs an independent clause to be complete, making it harder to distinguish than independent clauses. To make this easier, let us take a look at different kinds of dependent clauses and how they differ from one another.

The 10 Commandments of Punctuations Use


Any institution worth their salt that is offering an IELTS review program would not forget to teach their students how to master the elegant and proper use of punctuation marks. Remember the adage: the devil is in the details. When it comes to writing, there is nothing more demanding of your attention to detail than punctuations.

Your best friend when used correctly and your worst enemy when disregarded, punctuations have led to the downfall of many an IELTS UKVI test-taker. Don’t let it be yours! What follows are the 10 Commandments of Punctuation Use. Take them to heart, and you’ll be a step closer to your UK dream.

IELTS Updates: Top Five Study Programs in the US


If you’re planning to pursue your studies in the US, you will need to meet these three basic requirements:

        1.    An acceptance confirmation from a US university or college.
        2.    Sufficient funding to study.
        3.    A valid student visa.

But before fulfilling these requirements, you will also need to secure an English language proficiency test. To help you accomplish this, you need to enroll in an IELTS Philippines review center to boost your communication skills and be 100% IELTS-ready.

JRooz IELTS Review Center is the country’s leading provider of English language training with various branches across major metropolitan areas in the Philippines. After weeks of intensive review preparations, you’re now ready to ace the IELTS exam.

Once you have accomplished the IELTS Academic Test, it’s now time to choose your preferred study program in a US university. To guide you more, below is a list of the top five degree programs in the US.

Three Books You Should Befriend for Your IELTS Review


When preparing for an all-important life-changing exam like the IELTS, it is always better to utilize all the resources at your disposal. Relying on a solid review program such as being offered by JRooz IELTS Review Center, Inc., is a step toward the right direction. However, you can do more.

Aside from the Internet, test-takers should also utilize old-fashioned books. Here are three easy-to-get books that can improve your IELTS exam preparation.

Top 8 Tips for IELTS Academic Listening Task 2: Matching


Do you want to get a 9 band score in the IELTS Academic Listening Test? Aside from maximizing your IELTS course preparation and attending a group study, it is also essential to look for various test-taking strategies that you can apply in your exam preparation. For instance, read and follow these practical tips for the IELTS Academic Listening Task 2: Matching.

IELTS Review Tips: How to Make the Best IELTS Vocabulary List


Expanding your vocabulary can be tough. It requires critical thinking, hard work, and deep concentration. Enrolling in an IELTS UKVI review center is essential in honing your language skills as well as your learning abilities. Aside from attending review classes, it is also important to look for other learning alternatives that you can utilize during your study time. For instance, most of the successful IELTS test takers create an IELTS vocabulary list to expand their vocabulary before the examination.

IELTS UKVI News: IELTS Scholarship Grants & Awards


The IELTS partners (British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the Cambridge Assessment English) offer a lot of scholarships grants and awards for research in linguistics and language education. Listed below are the four primary grants and awards of the IELTS partners:

Using Nominal Clauses in the IELTS General Training Writing Test


Creating a personal, semi-formal, or formal letter and constructing an argumentative essay are the two tasks in the IELTS General Training Writing Test. These writing tasks require clarity and cohesion, grammatical range and accuracy, and an extensive lexical resource. As a test taker, enrolling in an IELTS UKVI review center is not enough. You must find the best writing technique to succeed in each writing task. For instance, check out these practical study tips on how to use nominal clauses.

3 Steps When Using Dual Coding in Your IELTS Review


One of the amazing ways to improve your learning abilities is to find the best study strategy that you can use in your IELTS training. Aside from using various note-taking strategies and learning many grammar tips and strategies, it is also vital to learn new learning techniques that can help boost your critical-thinking and communication skills. For instance, most college students are now using the dual coding method in their study time.

Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Punishment


One of the keys to acing the IELTS exam is being ready to tackle any topic. So, don’t confine your vocabulary expansion efforts to terminologies common in academic settings (if you’re an IELTS Academic taker) or expressions frequently used in everyday and workplace conversations (if you’re an IELTS General Training taker). Spend your IELTS review period building up your crime and punishment vocab as well.

Below are some of the frequently used words and collocations about crimes and their punishment. Take every appropriate opportunity to use them in your responses during your IELTS training.

IELTS Strategies: Listening to Monologues

Listening to an everyday monologue is the second task of the IELTS test. Ensure you’re prepared for it by practicing the following tips alongside your IELTS Quezon City training sessions.

IELTS Review Tips for Visual Learners


Do you understand and retain information better when they’re presented visually? Use this to your advantage. Make your IELTS UKVI review efforts cater to your learning style with the following tips to boost your chances of test success.

Learning About the IELTS Dream Big Fund

Introducing the IELTS Dream Big Fund
The IELTS Dream Big Fund is awarded to special needs students enrolled in an IELTS package and who wants to pursue their undergraduate or postgraduate studies overseas.

 The Dream Big Fund can be used for the following purposes:

        ·         tuition fee subsidy,
        ·         air tickets, and
        ·         special equipment that will aid students in their studies.

There are 12 countries eligible for the IELTS Dream Big Fund. This includes China, Hong Kong and Macau, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. An IELTS Dream Big Fund will be granted to one student in each of the eligible countries.

IELTS General Training Writing Tips for Task 1


Still struggling to compose formal, semi-formal, and personal letters despite weeks of IELTS review online sessions? Worried that this may cost you your band score goals? If so, don’t be. Supercharge your performance in the first task of the IELTS General Training’s writing exam with the following tips.

IELTS Reading Tips When Matching Features

The IELTS Reading Exam is arguably the least nerve-wracking component of the high-stakes test.

Unlike in the listening and speaking exams where you’re required to follow/participate in a conversation and determine/come up with answers immediately, the reading test allows you to proceed at your own pace. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s any less demanding.

In the reading exam, your time is in your hands. So, make sure you make every second count. Develop test strategies for its various task types during your IELTS training to maximize your limited time. This article focuses on the Matching Features section, its mechanics, and how to ace it.

How to Use the Brainstorming Web in Your IELTS Group Study


Attending a group study is one practical way to boost your IELTS training. As a student enrolled in an IELTS review center Philippines, it is essential to look for learning activities and tips that can make your group study sessions more productive. For instance, using the brainstorming web is one useful graphic organizer that most students use in their group study.

IELTS review center Philippines

What is a Brainstorming Web?

A brainstorming web is a visual map that shows how ideas and information relate to one another. This is typically used by students, teachers, and test takers as a learning strategy for developing and connecting ideas. Here are the benefits of the brainstorming web:

  •  Helps students develop critical-thinking skills and boost concentration.
  • Allows students to discover new ideas and relationships between concepts and facts.
  • Enables students to organize various ideas and concepts properly.

How to Create a Brainstorming Web

For students in an IELTS center who wants to use this graphic organizer in their group study sessions, read and follow these three simple steps:

1. Select a topic
The brainstorming web is best suited to a topic containing various key points and supporting details. In choosing the topic, tell your group mates to give at least three topics that they want to discuss during your group study sessions. Then write each topic on a whiteboard and ask your group mates to vote on which topic to discuss first. Once you have chosen your topic, keep a record of the other topics, which you can discuss in future sessions.

2. Make the brainstorming web
The brainstorming web consists of various sub-topic circles that are connected to a central circle. In constructing this web, the number of circles will depend on how many supporting details you have on a topic. Here is a sample illustration of a brainstorming web:

IELTS review center Philippines


3. Fill out each circle

Fill out the brainstorming web following these simple guidelines:
  • Write the main topic in the central circle.
  • Place the supporting details in each sub-topic circle.
  • Ask your group mates about his/her opinions or thoughts on each supporting detail and write them down beside the corresponding sub-topic circle.

Once you have filled out all the circles in the brainstorming web, you can now begin the group study discussion. During the discussion, you can also add more sub-topic circles if you want to further explain details on the topic.

Still seeking for more IELTS center updates, test-taking strategies, and review tips? Subscribe to our blog today or visit the nearest IELTS review center Philippines!  

REFERENCES:

"Brainstorming Web." BrainPOP Educators. Accessed July 13, 2018. https://educators.brainpop.com/printable/brainstorming-web/.

"Brainstorming Web." Teachers Pay Teachers. Accessed July 13, 2018. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Brainstorming-Web-227258.

"Brainstorming | Generating Many Radical, Creative Ideas." From MindTools.com. Accessed July 13, 2018. https://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html.

"Teaching and Learning with Brainstorming Webs." Learn about the Benefits of Essay Outlining for Students and Teachers. Accessed July 13, 2018. http://www.inspiration.com/visual-learning/brainstorming-webs.

IELTS Listening Tips for Summary Completion Tasks

Still have a few weeks before you take the IELTS exam? Want to enhance your IELTS center classes and raise your chances of acing the test? Refine your approaches to the various IELTS test types! In this article, you’ll learn about the best ways to tackle the summary completion tasks of the listening exam.

English 101: Using Demonstrative Pronouns

With so many writing tips and guidelines that an IELTS review center provides for their students, exam takers must utilize these tools to develop their writing skills and ace the writing sub-test. For instance, one writing tip that students can acquire in their review classes is learning how to use demonstrative pronouns.

Dos and Don'ts When Preparing With an IELTS Review Center


Are you taking classes in an IELTS review center? Do you want to ace all your practice exams? Want to ensure that by the end of the course, your communicative skills can get you your band score goal? If you answered yes to all of these, then this article is for you! Maximize your IELTS training by following these dos and don’ts.

IELTS Tips: How to Stay Productive When You’re Feeling Down


Depression can strike at any moment. So, don’t beat yourself up if you wake up feeling inexplicably down during your IELTS review period. Instead, evaluate your situation.
If you think you’re in for a severe bout of depression, one that’ll have you feeling drained and hopeless for weeks, reschedule your test date. Otherwise, check out the tips below. Integrate them into your test review to stay productive without compromising your mental health. 

IELTS UKVI Note-taking Tips: How to Apply the Sentence Method

As an IELTS UKVI test taker, developing a good study habit in an IELTSUKVI review center is essential. You need to look for various learningstrategies that can help boost your English language skills. For instance, note-taking is an efficient tool for IELTS test takers as it gives them the opportunity to review their lectures at home.

Enhancing your note-taking skills is also beneficial, especially if you want to make sure that all of the information you write in your notes are reliable and correct. One effective note-taking strategy that you can use is the sentence method.

5 Mind-boosting Games for IELTS Test Takers

Mind-boosting games are fun activities created to exercise the brain to achieve an active mind and improve your memory. For IELTS test takers, it is beneficial to play these mind-boosting games for them to enhance their brain skills before going to an IELTS review center. In Manila, instructors recommend their students to play some mind-boosting games before starting their lectures.

IELTS Insider: The Six Stages of Exam Development

Looking to improve your chances of IELTS UKVI success? Familiarize yourself with the little-known aspects of the high-stakes test!

Find out why IELTS is one of the most trusted English proficiency assessment exams in the world. Discover how the exam guarantees fair, accurate, and secure language evaluations. Learning about these aspects of the test will help you acquire a better understanding of its structure and development. Ask your IELTS center instructor about these things or conduct your own research.

IELTS Hacks: Tips for Reading Lengthy Texts

Reading long texts is an essential, albeit a tiresome, part of any IELTS Academic test taker’s review. 

Here’s why:

IELTS Academicexaminees must read and analyze lengthy passages from academic materials like books, journals, newspapers, and magazines. The texts are of general interest, mostly tackling subjects that are relevant to people who want to continue their academic pursuits (i.e., under- and postgraduate courses) and seek their professional registration abroad. So, if you are taking the IELTS Academic exam, expect to read dense, challenging texts.

These are the reasons why excellent training facilities, like the IELTSreview center in Makati, provide one-on-one coaching sessions about the reading component. Here are some of the tips they teach to help their students go through long texts.

Tongue Twisting Your Way to Better English Speech

There are various language exercises that you can do to complement your training in the review center for IELTS. Tongue twisters are an excellent example of these language enhancement activities.

What are tongue twisters?

Tongue twisters are phrases that are put together to make your tongue feel like it is all twisted up. They are meant to challenge your pronunciation and diction. Tongue twisters may be a set of words that rhyme or have the same consonant sound that has to be repeated several times or finished fast. 

This is a fun way to boost your test preparation and complement your training in the IELTS review center. In Baguio, for instance, instructors encourage students to say tongue twisters to help improve their pronunciation skills.

9 Tips to Strengthen Your English

Learning English is both fun and challenging. The key is to implement effective review strategies that are centered on improving your core communication skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. There are various ways to learn English. JRooz Review Center, for one, offers facility-based and online training programs to aid non-native English speakers in developing their competence and communicative abilities.

IELTS Tips: How to Get the Gist When Reading

Gist refers to the core idea of a written or spoken discourse. Reading for the gist, also known as skimming, is one of the most useful tips that an IELTS review center instructor will teach you. Read on to find out how to get the gist in any text effectively.

What to Expect during a Job Interview

JRooz Review Center understands the need to provide quality education in the most convenient and affordable way. For this reason, the IELTS training program and PTE training course were designed.

Key Benefits of Studying Abroad

The IELTS Philippines was designed to guide students in their journey toward living their dream abroad. IELTS Philippines instructors know the exam inside out so you can be sure that you will acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to accomplish your IELTS score goal and survive life in an English-speaking community.

IELTS Hacks: How to Read Scientific Papers

The IELTS test measures the test taker's ability to communicate using the English language. If you plan to work, study, or migrate abroad, enrolling in an IELTS review center is one surefire way to achieve your desired band score. There are available training facilities in the country where you can choose from. The IELTS review center in Cebu, for instance, caters to students in the Visayas.

IELTS Hacks: Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious offense, especially in the academic world. If you are an IELTS test taker aspiring to study in an English-speaking university, it is imperative that you enroll in the best IELTS review center to help you acclimate to the protocols in universities abroad.

Six Ways to Enhance Cognition without Sacrificing Your Budget

Budgeting is one of the most challenging aspects of an adult’s life. For instance, you have to allot money for food and transportation fare if you are attending courses in the IELTS review center in Manila.

Indeed, financial matters should not be taken for granted. If you do not budget wisely, you might end up sacrificing one of your classes in the IELTS review center in Manila, and you do not want that.

Reading References to Help Widen Your Vocabulary

You are planning to take the IELTS exam because you want to study abroad to earn a master’s degree. But here is the case: you are not a reader. To be honest, it is difficult to pass any exam if you are not much of a reader. Why? Most information are published and disseminated via what we call “books.” Then again, technology has made these books accessible via web, eBooks, Adobe Reader, etc.

What to Do after Receiving a Low IELTS Band Score

The International English Language Testing Exam (IELTS) is not a pass or fail type of exam. It is designed to assess test takers English language proficiency; thus, it is a requirement prior to admissions in academic institutions, acceptance in employment and approval of immigration. If test takers get a low IELTS band score, they may be declined and prevented from carrying out their purposes for leaving for an English-speaking country.

The Four Approved Secure English Language Tests for UKVI

Migrating to the UK is more than just the submission of qualifications these days. Aside from accomplishing the requirements, aspiring migrants must also pass an English proficiency exam.

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires aspiring migrants to undergo English assessment tests to measure their language abilities. The level of difficulty and test content of the required evaluation depends on the test taker’s background and purpose.

7 Strange Facts about the IELTS

The IELTS has been widely known to be the best English proficiency exam. Its reputation to be accurate in measuring individuals’ English levels has been trusted by a lot of companies, universities, and English-speaking countries.

Many IELTS test candidates trust reviewing in an IELTS review center in preparation for their actual examination. IELTS review centers offer different programs that hone students to become better in using and understanding the English language. Further, as time changes, new programs are introduced to students to offer more convenience in learning.

Improve Your Language Skills from Reliable IELTS Classes

Being good at English was not my forte. I never liked speaking in English; however, when I applied for a working visa in the UK, I was asked to take the IELTS examination. To be honest, I got cold feet realizing I had to study English. Since I was not good at using the English language, I opted to find a review center for the IELTS. Indeed, it is the best decision I made in preparation for my examination.

Get the Right Training For IELTS Review Courses

What do you exactly get in reviewing into an IELTS review center?

There have been speculations that an IELTS course is entirely a waste of both time and money since the IELTS can easily be learned alone. In truth, there is nothing wrong doing reviews alone for the IELTS examination. However, will this turn out successful compared to being trained by IELTS instructors?

10 Lessons about the IELTS Review You Need to Learn to Succeed

Attending an IELS review is no joke. You may see students outside an IELTS review center in Makati all smiling and laughing; however, they all feel the stress and anxiety for their upcoming examinations. I will be lying to myself if I say that I was calm during my review. I was stressed and to the point of giving up my application to Canada.

As a requirement for my work visa, I had to take review classes for the IELTS. Finding a review center for IELTS was easy for me since there is literally a lot to choose from here in Manila. Finding the best was the challenge. With recommendations from my friends and a fairly good review on the internet, I settled with an IELTS review center in Makati which was near my workplace.

Can I Get High IELTS Band Score without Reviewing?

I took the IELTS last year without reviewing, and I failed big time.

It was this time last year that I was so busy juggling work and my preparation for the IELTS. I was applying for a visa for Australia to practice my profession as a nurse, and IELTS was a strict requirement. My work schedule was from 3pm to 11pm, making it difficult for me to find a decent schedule to enroll in an IELTS review center. A week before my exam, I was already so stressed since I did not know what to do for my test. I ended up watching videos on Youtube to check on how speaking mock exams are done a day before my test. I took the test, waited for a couple of weeks, and got a failing score: I did not reach the required band score.

If You Will Read One Article About IELTS Online Review, Read This One

Almost 50% of higher education institutions are currently engage in some type of online learning.  According to researchers from Cornell University, “the web provides significant new functionality in transmitting information to the student and providing forums for exchange. The web is revolutionizing some areas of study through increased opportunities for learning and alternative formats for information.” (Dwyer, Barbieri, and Doerr, 1995).

In this regards, the demand for IELTS online review is significantly increasing. The functionality of using the web-based comprehensive IELTS course guide is dominantly encouraging students to take the IELTS online review.

IELTS Writing Rule: Pay Attention To Word Count

IELTS Review Center is a good training ground to get the qualifications you need to pass your IELTS exams. IELTS Philippines has situated its method to comply with the needs of IELTS students. One part of the IELTS Tests is IELTS Writing. One of the common mistakes in IELTS Writing is not paying attention to word count.

The Negative Impact of Repeating Words in the Writing Section in IELTS exam

Expressing one’s ideas in written text requires training and practice. When taking an English proficiency examination such as the IELTS, the writing section will challenge any test candidate to come up with a good essay. Candidates find this section extremely difficult as they have to consider grammar and vocabulary when writing.

In IELTS writing, one aspect that the candidate has to consider is the use of vocabulary. In an IELTS review program, different vocabulary-enriching activities are given to students. This aims to improve their word bank which is definitely needed not only in writing but also in speaking. IELTS review centers in Davao and in any parts of the country targets this to prevent students from constantly repeating words in their essays. Having said that, what is the negative impact when the same words are constantly repeated in the essay?

Jargon: words to avoid while taking TOEFL Exam

Having wide vocabulary puts you ahead when taking the TOEFL test. There is almost no difficulty on explaining your thoughts or finding the right words for your response. Despite the range of vocabulary, you have to know that there are some words that you should avoid using in the exam. In particular, jargons have to be avoided in your responses.

Jargons are words that are considered specific vocabulary used in a particular profession or field. These words often have concealed meanings that only people in that specific field understand the content. Because the TOEFL is an English fluency exam that mainly uses an academic English approach, using jargons should be avoided as tasks should be in the formal tone. Jargons will only confuse the rater or worst, obscure the content of the whole response. 

Grammar: The Parts Of Speech

The English language has been used by a lot of people in the world. Understanding and communicating in English have resulted to huge advantages to anyone who is fluent with the language. This is the very reason why a lot of non-native English speakers allot time and put an extra effort in learning the English language. As a learner of the English language, one must be able to know and understand the fundamental part of English grammar: the parts of speech.

Tips on How to Improve Your English Vocabulary

Strengthening your vocabulary is very useful, especially when taking an English proficiency examination. Studies have shown that examinees who have used a wide variety of appropriate English vocabulary gets a better score to those who do not.

Vocabulary is essential. It is the basic element in constructing a sentence. People can better express themselves when they use the right words when communicating. To improve your vocabulary, here are some points to do.

How to Fix your Little Problems with English

English has become the second spoken language of many people in the world. Good command with the language gives one a great advantage both personally and professionally. Learning English has been very common for non-native English speakers, and problems learning the language has become a part of it.

Problems in learning English is normal, yet solutions are available. If you are learning the language, do not get disappointed in committing mistakes. Like what they said, we learn from our mistakes, but do not make mistakes in order to learn. Studying English is a long process, even native English speakers make mistakes with their own mother tongue. Since these problems are common, here are some ways on how to fix those English problems.


Language Hack: Simple ways of learning English

Learning English is not as tough as it seems. The rules in grammar can bite you really hard, yet there aresimple ways of learning the English language. Here are some life hacks on how to be good at English.

What are Some Grammar Myths?



Non-native English speakers consider English a very important language to learn – a language that will help them find a better and more successful career in working for multinational companies overseas. With this, Filipinos work hard in studying the English language to be qualified for good jobs abroad. To be able to use the English language well, one has to have a good foundation with the rules in English grammar. 


Grammar Training: Formally versus Formerly


The words 'formally' and 'formerly' are different. Why?

Formally - means officially; with proper etiquette

For example: She was formally introduced to the CEO after concluding the application process.


Formerly - in the past; in earlier times

For example: The new space, formerly owned by Company X, will be renovated this week.


The Rules in Using Dash in the English Language

Commonly mistaken with hyphens, dashes have their independent functions. Therefore, they have to be used according to their rules. Like any other punctuation marks, each punctuation has its own unique rule that it should not be mistaken to be interchanged with others – unless if they have the same rules. Hence, the best thing to do is to know to when you can use a particular punctuation.

Dashes add emphasis, an interruption or a change of thought in sentences. They look like hyphens, but dashes are longer and spaces are placed in the sentences. Here are some rules some overlook in using dashes.

How to Improve my Vocabulary?

Learning languages takes time and a lot of effort. There are a lot of things to study like grammar, sentence construction and most importantly vocabulary. Vocabulary is the first step to learn another language like English. It is difficult to express yourself to be understood by other people if you cannot choose the right word or expression. Hence, building vocabulary is a very important step in learning English.

Since there is a great emphasis placed on learning vocabulary, how can one build and improve their vocabulary? There are a number of ways and here is how:

How to Know Your English Proficiency Level? Learn More about These Popular Types of English Proficiency Exams

English has been a second language that more and more nationalities have been using for the past years. The importance of speaking in English has grown more as international companies and universities overseas opened its doors to individuals who want to work and study with them, respectively. Through this initiative, many non-native English speakers find ways to learn English and take different English proficiency exams.

English proficiency exams are all designed to test your fluency in the English language. Some people take these exams for work, study or immigration. Others want to challenge themselves on how well they are in English. There are different English proficiency examinations offered in the world today. Here are some to choose from:

Ten Things You Need to Know about Apostrophes

Punctuations are a vital ingredient in a sentence. They tell us when to stop, take a short pause and even raise emotions when reading. Effectively using them in sentences results to a good delivery of the sentence or the whole paragraph itself. One of the most confusing and commonly misused punctuation marks is the apostrophe.

As defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an apostrophe is a mark used to indicate an omission of letters or figures, to show possession or the plural of letters and figures. To have a clearer picture of this definition, here are ten things you have to know about apostrophes.

Grammar Lesson on Collocations for Interpreting Data in the IELTS Writing Test

Data interpretation is a daunting task in the writing section of the IELTS or the International English Language Testing System examination. People reviewing for the said examination find a hard time looking for ways on how to describe data very well. Moreover, using the right words or collocations should be done carefully to correctly illustrate the given task.
Collocations for the IELTS writing test are commonly used in data interpretation. Collocations are a group of words that go together. These are common words used by English speakers, so as a non-native English speaker, it will be best to be familiar to such words for an effective and strong writing material. 
sample graph


English Proficiency Training Courses and Tests in Baguio City, Philippines

Can you speak English? Do you think that your knowledge in the usage of English can help you get by when you work or study overseas? 

Working and studying overseas have been every Filipino dreams of. There are a lot of opportunities given to professionals who are capable enough to work and be productive abroad. Moreover, students who can excel academically and be competitive in the academe are also given better chances offshore. With these great opportunities, it is just common for Filipinos to be encouraged to try their luck overseas.

Commonly Misused Adjectives in the English Language (With Photos)

 

Here are commonly misused adjectives in the English language. Learn to use them well to improve your proficiency when it comes to the English language. Best of luck!

IELTS English Proficiency Training - A Lesson on Indefinite Articles "An" and "A"

Just like the article "the", "a" and "an" are limiting adjectives. These two are usually placed right before the noun they modify. It is important to know that only countable nouns are used with these articles.

Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. They can have a plural form too. For example, we have table, horse, computer, and many more as countable nouns. Here are the rules in usage of the articles "a" and "an":

Corporate English Training: Ten Reasons Why do Businesses Need This?

What do we know about Corporate English or Business English?

In a very competitive business market, there is a huge need for business professionals to be knowledgeable and experts in their fields. Moreover, what makes these professionals more cut-throat in the industry is the expertise in using the English language. Corporate English, also called as Business English, is an advantage to in a very competitive global market. Through this program, companies and industries will realize the importance of efficient language skills for their staff. Is knowledge on Corporate English really necessary?

The company’s success depends on the people working for it. One’s productivity has a big impact on the status of the company; hence, it is best for any employers to hire people good at English. Here are ten things why businesses need to study Corporate English:

1. Increased Productivity

People who can understand each other work well together. International companies have different staff from different countries worldwide. If these people speak English, they will be able to work together efficiently on team projects. In addition, there will be easier communication from the supervisors down to their staff members.

2. Media Relations

Businesses need advertising to promote their products. Communicating with Public Relations and Adverting companies will flow smoothly if both parties come to good agreement. Imagine a client demanding a specific kind of publicity for a product and this has not been met. As a result, there will be miscommunication on both parties. To improve media relations, having someone fluent in the English language is necessary.

3. Better Customer Satisfaction

As what they always say, “Customers are always right.” Hence, how will you be able to make them satisfied if you cannot understand them when providing services? This is the very reason why companies get people who can speak English well as front liners for customer service. To maintain good relationship with customers, a good communication relationship should be practiced.

4. Business Partner Relations

Finding the right partners and investors is important in any business. Thus, most companies seek foreign investors to help with their company. English is known to be spoken in many countries know; therefore, it is important to close deals with the help of the English language.

5. Employee Relations

The loyalty of employees to a company relies on how the company takes care of their hires. Maintaining this relationship through constant communication gives an impression that the company is concerned with their workers. Moreover, miscommunication in companies will be prevented if they speak a language spoken by many which is English.


6. Employee Collaboration

Though they might be seen as a single unit, employees work together for the company’s success. To have a good relationship and avoid any problems within employees, it is best to have people to be speaking English.

7. Global Market Advancement

A company who can market their products better because of the knowledge in English gains more profit. Indeed, clients will be more encouraged and persuaded to patronize a company’s products and services when they can understand the service they are giving.

8. Crisis Management

Whether it is employee to employee or customer to employee, resolving issues in English is easier. It will improve relations between these people and will help build a good reputation for the company as well.

9. Confidence in handling global matters

People are more confident in dealing with different kinds of situations – from giving presentations to taking bigger job responsibilities – when they are proficient in the English language.

10. World Recognition

As many customers and clients become familiar with a company, the more loyalty and investment they get. Ever wonder why some companies become very popular all over the world? It is because they deal with their clients and have global marketing in the English language.

Simply put it this way, the knowledge of hires in a company in the English language results to a high productivity in the company. Hence, it is an advantage for these industries to have people working for them who are good English speakers.

English Proficiency: Free Online Grammar Quiz Sites

Are you currently enrolled in a review center for the International English Language Testing System exam (IELTS) or the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL)?
Being part of review centers for both feels like being a student again. You have one-on-one classes and group classes where discussion on certain topics is encouraged among students. In these English proficiency programs, candidates or students are taught skills, techniques and strategies that are necessary during the actual examination. Aside from these, they will also be given grammar classes. Why grammar?
Grammar is perhaps the most important element in learning the English language. Sentences will not be created without putting the right words together taking into consideration the function of each word if it is a noun, verb, or adjective. Because of grammar, good responses in the speaking section and strong essays for the writing section are possible. Indeed, grammar is something that candidates should work on hard and must not be taken for granted. However, due to the amount of time spent between reviewing and working, it is recommended for candidates to take some online grammar quizzes to hone their skills. Here are some websites online candidates should visit.
1.       Englishpage.com
Englishpage.com is the best in providing explanations most especially on verb tenses. Everybody commits a mistake in writing a sentence with correct verb tense. We have 12 verb tenses in the English language and each have specific function in conveying the meaning of the sentence. In Englishpage.com, the concepts are thoroughly explained with exercises following the lesson.
Here’s a sample from the said website:
November 12, 1997

Today (be)  the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am exhausted and my legs (shake)  ; I just hope I am able to complete the trek. My feet (kill, really)  me and my toes (bleed) , but I (want, still)  to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be)  so different, and I (try)  to adapt to the new way of life here. I (learn)  a little bit of the language to make communication easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not)  foreign languages quickly. Although I (understand, not)  much yet, I believe that I (improve, gradually) .

After filling the blanks, there is a check button below that once you click it, it will show the percentage of the right answers you have and will leave the wrong ones for you to correct.

2.       English-4u.de
This is a good website too that will practice a candidate on the different parts of speech, verb tenses, voices of verbs and even prepositions. The site is for free so candidates can use the website as many times as they want. It also has a discussion on the topics presented and followed by exercises. Here’s a sample:

Put the sentences into passive voice.

1. They built these houses in 1902.
.
2. She bakes a cake every Sunday.
.
3. He broke the vase yesterday.
.
4. I clean the shoes every Friday.
.
5. We wrote the exercise an hour ago.
.

3.       www.englisch-hilfen.de
This is another website that offers free grammar exercises. The topics are so varied that they cover almost everything in the English grammar. A good site to practice and it is all free of charge. Here’s a sample:

 Fill in all the gaps with the correct forms of the adjectives.
 
Toggle example

1)  - longer -
2)  -  - worst
3) modern -  -
4)  -  - nicest
5)  -  - nearest
In English proficiency programs, grammar is highly important and is taught with tremendous and thorough explanation. To be good at grammar, all you need is practice and more exposure on the different exercises found online.