Author: Amy Estrada (Page 16 of 28)

Curiosity Killed The Cat

December 4, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 3 Comments

Curiosity killed the cat.

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

That’s right, I want you to find the answer. Because remember, my job as your teacher is to guide you to the answer. If I just gave you the answer without asking you to do the work, I’d be robbing you of your learning opportunity. No pain, no gain!

ghastly

December 4, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 5 Comments

Write a sentence using the word ghastly in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

ghastly /ˈgæst li, ˈgɑst-/

adjective

shockingly frightful or dreadful; horrible: a ghastly murder.
resembling a ghost, especially in being very pale: a ghastly look to his face.
terrible; very bad: a ghastly error.

adverb

Also, ghastily. in a ghastly manner; horribly; terribly.
with a deathlike quality.

Origin of ghastly

Middle English 1275-1325

Source: Dictionary.com

Don’t Shoot The Messenger

December 3, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 3 Comments

Don’t shoot the messenger.

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

stymie

December 3, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 6 Comments

Write a sentence using the word stymie in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

stymie /ˈstaɪ mi/

noun

Golf. (on a putting green) an instance of a ball’s lying on a direct line between the cup and the ball of an opponent about to putt.
a situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.

verb (used with object)

to hinder, block or thwart.

Origin of stymie

1855-1860

Source: Dictionary.com

Talk Is Cheap

December 2, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 3 Comments

Talk is cheap.

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

convene

December 2, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 5 Comments

Write a sentence using the word convene in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

convene /kənˈvin/

verb (used without object)

to come together or assemble, usually for some public purpose.

verb (used with object)

to cause to assemble; convoke.
to summon to appear, as before a judicial officer.

Origin of convene

Latin, Late Middle English 1400-1450

Source: Dictionary.com

fruition

December 1, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 5 Comments

Write a sentence using the word fruition in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

fruition /fruˈɪʃ ən/

noun

attainment of anything desired; realization; accomplishment: After years of hard work she finally brought her idea to full fruition.
enjoyment, as of something attained or realized.
state of bearing fruit.

Origin of fruition

Late Middle English 1375-1425

Source: Dictionary.com

Video | HEADQUARTERS Pronunciation

December 1, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 0 Comments

Today I want to talk about the word HEADQUARTERS.

First, let’s practice the pronunciation of this word: HEADQUARTERS. HEADQUARTERS.

Notice the S is pronounced Z.

It’s a three syllable word. Head-quar-ters

In American English we soften the T sound and pronounce it more like a D.

As a NOUN, this word is always written and said with a final S,

And it is used with a singular or plural verb.

For example:

The headquarters is located in Germany.

The headquarters are located throughout Germany.

In the first example, The headquarters is located in Germany, we are referring to a single headquarters and therefore we use a singular verb, IS.

In the second example, The headquarters are located throughout Germany, we are referring to multiple headquarters and therefore we use a plural verb, ARE.

Record yourself speaking some sentences with HEADQUARTERS then playback your recording to determine if you are pronouncing it correctly.

You may use the word HEADQUARTER without an S at the end, only if you are using it as a verb. Using the word HEADQUARTER as a verb is a less common, but it is correct.

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What Goes Up Must Come Down

December 1, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 3 Comments

What goes up must come down.

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

When The Cat’s Away, The Mice Will Play

November 30, 2016 / Amy Estrada / 2 Comments

When the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

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