19
Nov
2009
Studying English and Surfing
English and Surfing
If you are thinking of taking an English course, make sure you do some research to find one that will be suited to your English levels and interests. There are many options for studying English, from homestays to correspondence courses. Studying overseas in an English college is also a great option as it will give you intensive lessons, as wellas plenty of opportunity to practice and meet English-speakers. GEOS English colleges in Australia have a variety of English courses, one of which is English and Surfing, where students get to combine study and fun on the waves.
Here are some common surfing terms to get you started:
- A Frame: a wave that breaks equally left and right, peeling away to form a letter A.
- Barrel: a breaking wave which is hollow under the breaking lip. Also known as a tube or greenroom.
- Backdoor: entering the tube from behind and riding through.
- Close out: a wave that does not break diagonally, allowing a surfer to continue surfing the unbroken section of a wave.
- Curdoroy sets: when a ground swell is stacked to the horizon like curdoroy.
- Groundswell: waves generated far off and forming clean lines as it travels, with longer gaps between each wave.
Surfing Destinations
If you have a passion for surfing then there is probably nothing you’d enjoy more than a holiday touring all the best surfing destinations of the world. Not all surf is the same, each spot has its own distinct style. Apart from great waves, some spots have become iconic over generations of surfers. Here are some popular spots for surfers:
- Supertubes- Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa
- Banzai Pipeline- North Shore, Oahu
- Hanalei Point- Hanalei Bay, Kauai
- Surfrider Beach- Malibu, California
- Restaurants- Tavarua Island, Fiji
Of course, if you’re planning on studying English as well, many GEOS English colleges provide the perfect opportunity to combine the two.
2
Nov
2009
Learning English in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second biggest city in South Africa, its most popular international tourist destination and even the most popular tourist destination for the continent. It has a great climate, beautiful surrounds and well-developed infrastructure. While English is the most common language spoken for to conduct business, there are ten other official languages as well. The city is located on the shore of Table Bay, on Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans converge.
Tourist attractions include Table Mountain and Table Mountain National Park, a flat-topped mountain surrounded by steep cliffs, overlooking the city. Visitors can hike to the top, or alternatively take the cableway. The National Park, proclaimed in 1998 to protect the rare fynbos vegetation, contains two main attractions: the Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. The latter is the southwesternmost point of Africa, a rocky headland on the Atlantic Coast, and one of the major milestones for the Portuguese in 1488 in their attempt to establish direct trade relations with the Far East.
GEOS Cape Town
The GEOS Cape Town Language Centre is conveniently located at the heart of the city and offers a range of English language courses. Their courses are taught by highly qualified teachers, combined with a variety of fun activities and range from beginners to advanced English speakers:
- General English
- Intensive English
- Business English
- English for Tourism and Catering
- English for Business and Commerce
- English and Surfing
- English and Scuba Diving
- IELTS Exam Preparation
- TOEFL Exam Preparation
- Cambridge Exam Preparation
- Private Lessons
- Young Learners Program
- Tour Groups
Students are tested on their first day at the school then placed in a course most suitable for their level of English language skills. The classes are small ensuring individual attention and support, and progress is regularly monitored to make sure students are getting the most out of their course. The college provides a range of social activities including excursions around the city, school parties, sporting activities and barbeques.
23
Oct
2009
Demonstrative English Pronouns
Demonstrative Pronouns
When learning English, it is important to understand how to use pronouns. Demonstrative pronouns show far away or near an object is. The variables of demonstrative pronouns are distance/time and number (whether singular or plural). By comparison, many languages have other variables as well, such as whether it is the subject or object and the gender (male/female/neuter).
In English there are four demonstrative pronouns:
- Singular: this (near) and that (far).
- Plural: these (near) and those (far).
Demonstrative pronouns should not be confused with demonstrative adjectives which also use this/that and these/those. The difference is that the demonstrative adjective modifies a noun, whereas the demonstrative pronoun replaces the noun. For instance:
- That desk looks heavy. (desk = noun)
- That looks very heavy. (no noun)
Demonstrative pronouns are usually used in English to refer to things not people. However, there are occasions when they can be used if the person is identified. For example:
- This is Sarah speaking.
- Is that Stephen?
Examples
Here are some examples of how demonstrative pronouns are used in English. As you can see, demonstrative pronouns can be used in exclamations, questions or statements. They can be used to start a sentence, in the middle of a sentence, or at the end. Demonstrative pronouns are often used to compare one thing to another, such as size or weight.
- Look at that!
- Which car should I get? This one or that one?
- These look delicious, I don’t know which to eat first.
- This has been great.
- Are those Spanish or Italian?
- These are bigger than those.
Of course in the preceding examples, because the sentences have been taken out of context, it is difficult to know what they are referring to. So it is important to make it clear what you are talking or writing about before using a demonstrative pronoun.