Aprender ingles with Reza and Craig
English lessons to improve your grammar, vocabulary and listening skills. We'll help you take your English to the next level! Lecciones para aprender y mejorar tú inglés.

If you are a new listener, If this is your first time here, welcome! I'm Craig. This is Reza, and we are going to help you improve your English and take it to the next level.

In this episode: Urban living

Listener Feedback: Surferlobo on iTunes Chile (24th June)
Este podcast es lo mejor que he escuchado. Los profesores hablan muy bien,
se entiende perfecto lo que dicen y además son muy simpáticos y eso hace que sus clases sean muy entretenidas.
Me reí por montones cuando un profesor habló en inglés pero con acento español. (5 stars)

Vocabulary: Urban living


Where people live:

flat (UK) / Apartment (US) - a block of flats / an apartment block
terraced / semi-detached (a semi) / detached
a penthouse
a condo = condominium (US) - bloque de apartamentos
a bungalow
a farmhouse
a cottage - casita de campo, cabaña
a mansion
a villa - Mediterranean
a tent
a caravan
a mobile home
a council house / a council estate


Collocations:

a residential area
an industrial estate
a shopping/pedestrian precinct, a shopping centre (UK) / a shopping mall (US)
a building site (UK) / a construction site (US)
green belt
shanty town
local amenities/facilities
red light district
Chinatown


Expressions:

on the outskirts
in the suburbs/suburban area
in the city centre (UK) / downtown (US)
slum
to sleep rough, homeless
to crash (on someone’s floor)
to put someone up
to rent a house/flat/apartment X to rent OUT a house/flat/apartment
The tenant rents the flat - The landlord/landlady rents OUT the flat


Adjectives:

run-down / shabby
to renovate/restore, to do up (an area or a house, flat etc)
bustling
lively
picturesque
cosmopolitan
prosperous
inner-city
dull
depressing

Have you ever been to a dull, depressing place?
City life or country life? Which would you prefer?
What was the area you grew up in like?

to demolish, to knock down

Is it better to demolish and rebuild or renovate and restore?

Send us a comment or question craig@inglespodcast.com or belfastreza@gmail.com.

Next episode: Listener Questions: go and come, would and could, como leer en inglés

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called 'See You Later'

 

Direct download: AIRC70_FianlCut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:22pm CET

If you are a new listener, If this is your first time here, welcome! I'm Craig. This is Reza, and we are going to help you improve your English and take it to the next level.

In this episode: Telephone English

Listener Feedback: Cristina from Barcelona: I need (to) speak on the phone in my work and I always am nervous (I’m always nervous). Can you explain some expression for speaking on the telephone? I love your podcasts and I learn lots of things every week. Thank you.

Telephone English

Reza and Craig agree that speaking on the phone in a foreign language is one of most difficult things to do. You can't see the other person, so you have no body language, hand gestures or facial communication.

 

Vocabulary

To dial = marcar

To put (s.o.) through = pasar/poner a alguien 

“Don't put any calls through for the next hour” - No pases ninguna llamada en la próxima hora

“I'm putting you through now.” - Ahora le paso (or pongo)

To hold (the line) = esperar (¡no cuelgue!)

To hang up = colgar

To give (s.o.) a ring/call = llamar a alguien

To phone/call (s.o.) back = volver a llamar (a alguien)

The line’s busy/engaged = está comunicando

Leave/take a message = dejar/tomar un recado

ring tone - tono de llamada

 

Expressions

 

Identifying yourself

Hi, it’s Reza speaking.

Hello, this is Craig = Soy Craig NOT I am Craig 

Good morning, my name’s Craig.

Reason for phoning

I’m ringing/calling/phoning to let you know .....

I'm ringing/I'm calling/I'm phoning to ask if .....

I'm ringing/I'm calling/I'm phoning to find out if…..

I'm ringing/I'm calling/I'm phoning because I was wondering if .....

 

Asking for people

Could I/May I speak to Craig, please?

I’d like to speak to Craig

Is Craig there, please?

Could you put Craig on, please?

I'm afraid... = me temo que... / lo siento per... I’m afraid Reza is not here/in the office

 

Asking for things

Could you…..(+infinitive without to) 

Could you ring me back later. 

Could you ask/get + PERSON to ring/call me back (later)?

Could you tell me what time the restaurant closes

 

Would you mind………(+ing) 

Would you mind sending me some information.

Would you mind asking + PERSON to get back to me, please?

 

To review polite indirect questions look at Episode 50.  http://www.inglespodcast.com/2015/05/11/indirect-questions-and-travel-in-morocco-with-special-guest-nicola-airc50/  

 

Would you mind asking Reza to get back to me, please?

I'll get back to you.

I was wondering = estaba pensando…

I was wondering if we could get together next week.

 

Giving your phone number

My number is ......

You can get me on .......

You can get in touch on/You can contact me on .....

 

Ending the conversation

To get back to someone = volver a llamar a alguien

I’ll get back to you tomorrow.

 

Thank you for calling. Goodbye.

Thanks a lot then. See you.

Thanks for phoning. All the best. Bye.

 

Do you like speaking on the phone? (in Spanish?)

Do you ever prepare for phone calls before you make them?

What’s your preferred method of communication with people?

 

Send us a comment or question craig@inglespodcast.com  or belfastreza@gmail.com.

 

Next episode:  Urban living

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called 'See You Later' 

Direct download: AIRC69_FinalCut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:25pm CET

Puedes contestar las preguntas de comprensión y obtener ayuda con el vocabulario difícil en esta entrevista en inglespodcast.com 

You can answer listening comprehension questions and get help with difficult vocabulary in this interview at inglespodcast.com 

Direct download: BobYareham_FinalCut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:38am CET

If you are a new listener to this podcast, welcome! I'm Craig. This is Reza, and we are going to help you take it to the next level. 

With over 40 years of teaching between us, we'll help you improve your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

In this episode: the TOEFL and IELTS test

Feedback:  email from Antonio Tenorio (who also nominated us for the UK podcasters’ award.

I've been looking for a way to learn English through listening to podcasts and I found this one which is helping me a lot because it's the best I ever met (heard). Reza and Craig are very skillful in (at) teaching English and they create all their podcasts in order to convey the best to their listeners. I send you a big hug and  please keep pushing and helping us to learn your greats language. Thank you.

We spoke about IELTS in Episode 15, (  http://www.inglespodcast.com/2014/02/21/aprender-ingles-con-reza-y-craig-15/)  and compared IELTS to Cambridge exams (FCE, CAE etc) in Episode 24. (http://www.inglespodcast.com/2014/06/05/money-money-money-must-be-funny-in-the-rich-mans-world-airc24/ )

IELTS

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System A collaboration between the British Council (the UK govt.’s cultural body and most important English language teaching org.); 

IDP: IELTS Australia ( Australian universities and recruitment/employment agency); Cambridge English Language Assessment.

Test overview 

In IELTS, there are four papers: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. There are two different IELTS modules: Academic and General Training. 

The Speaking and Listening tests are the same in both modules, but the Reading and Writing tests are different. 

Academic module 

Choose this if you wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, or if you are seeking professional registration, e.g. doctors and nurses. 

General Training module 

Choose this if you wish to migrate to an English-speaking country, (e.g. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, or also USA) or if you wish to train or study at below degree level.

IELTS FORMAT - ON PAPER, not computer

Each skill is tested separately.

Listening - 40 questions, 4 sections, a variety of question types - 30 mins. approx.

Reading - 40 questions, 3 texts, a variety of question types  - 60 mins. Academic module has more academic texts, whereas General module has non-academic texts.

Writing - 2 tasks, 60 mins.

Academic Q1: write about a diagram(s) incl. some statistics. General Q1: letter responding to a situation. Q2: an essay giving your opinion on a topci.

Speaking - 3 parts: personal info; responding to a prompt card about a topic with three bullet points to talk about; conversation with examiner connected to prompt card topic - 11-14 minutes. One examiner talks to one candidate in a room. It is recorded.

Price: approximately £115 (€190, $200)

IELTS Links:

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/ielts/why-take-the-test/ 

http://www.ielts.org/ 

http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/

Free or longer paid version for practice:

http://www.roadtoielts.com/testdrive/

Free apps:

http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-your-test/1001-ways-app

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubl.ielts&feature=search_result

 

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL iBT (computer) test. There is also a pBT (paper) version, but only available in very very few countries. 

Who accepts TOEFL?

More than 9,000 colleges, agencies and other institutions in over 130 countries accept TOEFL scores. Other organizations rely on TOEFL scores as well:

Immigration departments use them to issue residential and work visas

Medical and licensing agencies use them for professional certification purposes

Individuals use them to measure their progress in learning English

TOEFL FORMAT - ON COMPUTER, not paper

During the test, you are asked to perform tasks that combine/integrate more than one skill, such as:

Read, listen and then speak in response to a question

Listen and then speak in response to a question

Read, listen and then write in response to a question

Reading - 60–80 minutes - 36–56 questions

Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions.

Listening - 60–90 minutes - 34–51 questions

Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions.

Break - 10 minutes

Speaking - 20 minutes - 6 tasks

Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks about campus situations & academic situations.

Writing - 50 minutes - 2 tasks

Question 1: Write essay response based on reading and listening tasks;  Question 2: support an opinion on a topic.

It takes approximately 10 days to get the results from the TOEFL test.

It can cost between $150 - $225, although it usually costs about $160 - $180.

Links:

General info:

http://www.ets.org/s/toefl/flash/17494/TOEFL_Resources_Web_Video.htm

Test overview:

http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/about/content/

What happens at test centre:

http://www.ets.org/s/toefl/flash/15571_toefl_prometric.HTML

Overview of each part of test, with a few simple questions:

http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/tour/highrez/start-web_content.HTML

Writing & Speaking video tutorial:

http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/about/video_library/

DOWNLOADBALE OFFICIAL free test practice:

http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/toefl_interactive_sampler/

There's some free practice here, inc. Speaking, (and a lot more if you pay):

TOEFL NETWORK-

http://www.toeflnetwork.com/#/page/5

Send us an email, or record your voice and send us a sound file, with a comment or question to craig@inglespodcast.com or belfastreza@gmail.com.

On next week's episode: Telephone English

 

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called 'See You Later' 

Direct download: AIRC68_FinalCut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:00pm CET

If you are a new listener to this podcast, welcome! I'm Craig. This is Reza, and we are going to help you take it to the next level. 

With over 40 years of teaching between us, we'll help you improve your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

In this episode: Common mistakes made by Spanish speakers

Listener Feedback: 

A huge thank you to sara Jarabo for becoming a Patron of the show on Patreon. You can support us at www.patreon.com/inglespodcast. And thank you to all our sponsors on Patreon, Mamen, Corey, Sara and Manuel.

Olga (Sevilla)

Una duda que tengo es el significado de "QUE". Normalmente significa 'What', pero en la frase ¡que barato¡ se escribe con 'that´s' "that´s cheap". ¿Porque?

You're right, Olga - "Qué" is often translated to "what" (¿Qué hora es? - What time is it? ¿Qué es eso? - What's that?), but 'what' can also be translated as "How" or "That" in some specific expressions. 

¡Qué cara! - What a cheek! How cheeky! 'He's taking a liberty!'

Así que "¡Qué barato!" en inglés es "That's cheap" o "How cheap!". How fantastic! How wonderful! That's amazing! That's terrible! How frustrating!

It's true that quite often you'll get into problems if you try to translate directly from Spanish to English. It isn't always possible.

What's 'Tengo 20 años' - I'm 20

'Vamos a tomar una cerveza. - Let's go for a beer / Let's have a beer

Tengo hambre / sueño - I'm hungry / sleepy

Perdí el autobus - I missed the bus

It's normal to translate when you first start learning a language, but try to stop doing it as soon as possible and start thinking in English.

Common mistakes made by Spanish speakers:

I like you - tu me gustas

cocky, big-headed - arrogante, creído, engreído

'tener' is a problem, isn't it? - it doesn't necessarily translate to 'I have'

tengo calor - I'm hot

tengo sed - I'm thirsty (pronunciation /thirstee)

¡Ten cuidado! - Be careful! (Take care? - Cuídate)

tienes suerte - you're lucky

tengo frío - I'm cold

tengo prisa - I'm in a hurry

tengo miedo de/a - I'm afraid of... What are you afraid of?

tienes razón - you're right (the 3 most useful words in any marriage!) Yes dear, you're right!

I'm bored / I'm boring

The film is boring - I am bored (by the film) - 'ed' adjectives are passive. 'ing' adjectives are active.

This podcast is interested or interesting? You are interested by the podcast.

XThe people is very kind.X - a person IS... / people ARE.... 'people' is the plural noun. 'person' is the singular noun.

'I brought my books here to help you.' NOT....Xto helpingX NOT Xfor to helpX

It's the 'infinitive of purpose' (WHY?) :

I brought my books here.

- Why?

to help you.

I took a pen

- Why?

to write something.

I took a chair.

- Why?

to sit down.

I opened the door.

- Why?

to go out.

Why did you listen to Aprender Inglés con Reza y Craig?

to improve my English

Why did Reza go there today?

To podcast with Craig.

TAKE and LAST

It TAKES Reza 40 minutes to get to Craig's house.

A podcast LASTS about 30 minutes. (the duration of the podcast is about 30 minutes)

X"Can you explain me how to use the verb get?X

Can you explain how to use... OR Can you explain TO ME how to use....OR Can you TELL ME how to use...

TELL and SAY

You usually SAY SOMETHING but you TELL SOMEONE

...but there are exceptions:

TELL the truth

TELL a lie

TELL a story

TELL a joke etc.

"I SAID TO my boss..." OR "I TOLD my boss."

XThere are much differents things to do in my town.X - There are many different things to do in my town.

Adjectives do not agree with the noun in English. - No 'S'!!

XI didn’t write nothing.X - "I didn't write anything." or "I wrote nothing."

Can you think of more common mistakes? Send us an email to craig@inglespodcast.com or to Reza at belfastreza@gmail.com, or send us a voice message through our website. Just click the orange button on the home page.

The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called 'See You Later' 

There are more podcasts to improve your English on our website at http://www.inglespodcast.com/

Direct download: AIRC67_FinalCut.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:37pm CET