Learn American English Online Blog

It’s the last day of the year. It’s your last opportunity to do something great in 2017 if you haven’t already done it. Tomorrow new students will begin Lesson One in the Blue Level, and everyone else will move forward to the next level.

What are your goals for learning English in 2018?

As we get closer to the end of the year, people start thinking about the new year.  What kinds of things are you expecting for yourself or your family in 2018?  The word of the day is "expect."

The word of the day is "fix."

It’s important from time to time to remind visitors and students to this website that the main focus for LearnAmericanEnglishOnline.com is on American English–not the absolutely pure form of grammatically correct English that is found in text books. If you want that, you should go to another website.

It’s also important to mention that I love British English! I love the way it sounds, I love the word choices, and I love the history of it. I would never claim that American English is any better than British English, only that it’s different. People who study English really need to learn where it came from. Study Shakespeare, read Charles Dickens, listen to the Beatles, learn about British history.

I get all kind of crazy email from people who want to tell me that Americans don’t speak English, or that I’m trying to promote a form of English that is incorrect. The fact is, this website just tells it like it is. Language changes and evolves as people use it. Americans have had a big impact on English. Anyone who believes otherwise fails to recognize the truth.

So for students who live in the United States or Canada, or for those students who prefer American English over British English, this website can be quite helpful.

The word of the day is "rid." This is a useful word when you want to throw something away or finish something.

snow shovel

He’ll need to get rid of that broken snow shovel.

Sorry, I haven’t posted much content to the website in the last few days. I’m getting over a really nasty cold, but today I’m feeling a little better, so I added this to the word of the day section.

The word of the day is "risk." You can use this word as a verb or as a noun. To risk is to put yourself or something valuable to you in danger of being lost.

  • The young man took a risk. (noun)
  • He risked his investment. (verb)
  • Vanessa does not like to take risks. (noun)
  • She risks very little. (verb)
  • Police officers put their lives at risk every day. (noun)
  • They risk getting killed or injured daily. (verb)

This new video explains how the word "look" can be used as a verb:

 

I just came across a really interesting app for people who want to improve their speaking skills. You can click here to check it out, but please come back to the website!

The word of the day is "pile."

I’m experimenting with some online software for creating vocabulary quizzes. You can click here to try it.

The word of the day is "shame."

Today a man whom I greatly admire is resigning from the U.S. Senate as he faces accusations of groping women. To grope someone is to touch that person or grab that person in a manner that makes him or her feel uncomfortable. It’s a shameful thing to be labeled as a groper. The word of the day is "grope."

By the way, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has admitted to groping. Evidence of this admission is on audio tape, and several women have come forward to say that he groped them. But he still has his supporters. Shame on him.

This video explains how "on me" may be used when talking about something that you are carrying on your body, such as a phone, money, keys, a pen, etc.

 

Students should move forward to the next level today. If you finished the Blue Level, move to the Red Level. If you finished the Red Level, move to the Yellow Level. If you finished the Yellow Level, move to the Green Level.

All new students begin on the Blue Level today.

Here’s a link to an emailed lesson I sent out to students today. The lesson is on the passive voice.

Each course level on this website has a checklist. Print out and keep the checklist next to your computer, tablet, or phone and use it to track your progress as you move through the lessons:

PRINT:

Click here to go back to November 2017

Click here to go to the LAEO Blog Archive.

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