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Hello Mitzi

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Callum Callum | 15:59 UK time, Thursday, 6 May 2010

Hello Mitzi

Thank you for introducing yourself on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Learning English student blog.

Nuala is finally away on her holiday in the U.S. She had been delayed by the volcanic ash cloud which stopped all flights in the UK but now the air is clear she was able to rebook her flights and head off. So, I am standing in for a couple of weeks as the teacher blogger.

I'm sorry to say that I've never been to Mexico so I'm looking forward to learning more about it. The closest I've been is New York, which really isn't very close at all!

One thing I do remember is that Mexico City is at quite a high altitude, isn't it? I'm sure you are accustomed to it but I wonder if you notice when you go away and come back that the air is thinner?

There are a couple of things I'd like to look at in your writing.

Here's a sentence from your blog:

"this notice made me feel surprised but at the same time exciting"

In this sentence you use 'surprised' and 'exciting' to describe your reaction to being chosen as a blogger. One of these is not right and so let's take a quick look at using adjectives with 'ed' and 'ing'

Look at these examples:

  • The film was exciting.
  • I like history, it's really interesting.
  • I can't stand football, it's so boring.

In each example the subject is not us, but something else - the film, history, football. We use the 'ing' form to describe a quality that something else has.

When we talk about our feeling, our emotion, we use the '-ed' form. For example:

  • I was excited to be going scuba diving.
  • I was interested in the lecture.
  • I was bored on the flight, there was nothing to do.

The 'ed' form describes your emotion, something that you feel.

You can use the 'ing' form with 'I' but it describes your personality, rather than your feeling.

  • I am bored = at this time you feel bored.
  • I am boring = I am not an interesting person, I make other people feel bored.

So, it's important to use the right one!

Here's your first homework task. Look at the following sentences and decide if they are right or wrong. If you think they are wrong, can you rewrite them to make them correct?

  1. I went to a business meeting today and I nearly fell asleep, it was very bored.
  2. I've just read a great book about the history of Mexico, it was really interesting.
  3. I was really exciting when I found out I'd won a prize in the lottery.
  4. I was surprising when I learnt I was going to be the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Learning English blogger.

I really liked some of the vocabulary you used in your blogs and everything was clear but here are a few suggestions:

  • "I didn't think the answered twice."

I think what you mean here was that it was an easy decision to make and we'd use one of the following expressions:

  • I didn't give it a second thought.
  • I didn't have to think twice.

You describe your little nephews as 'charmy'. This is a lovely word, but I'm afraid it doesn't exist in English (although I think it should!). The right adjective is 'charming'.

You talk about your favourite pastimes like this:

  • "But the most I enjoyed doing is, cooking, eating and watching movies."

Again, the meaning is absolutely clear but it would be more accurate to use this expression:

  • "But what I enjoy doing most is ......."

All the best for now Mitzi and I look forward to reading more of your blogs.

Vocabulary

  • to rebook
    to make a reservation for a ticket or flight again after the original booking was changed for some reason

  • to head off
    to leave, to start a journey

  • standing in
    acting as a temporary replacement

  • altitude
    height in relation to sea level

  • (to be) accustomed to
    used to something so that it feels natural and comfortable

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Hello, this is my homework

    1. I went to a business meeting today and I nearly fell asleep, it was very bored. (felt asleep, it was very boring)
    2. I've just read a great book about the history of Mexico, it was really interesting. (right!)
    3. I was really exciting when I found out I'd won a prize in the lottery. (excited)
    4. I was surprising when I learnt I was going to be the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Learning English blogger. (surprised)

  • Comment number 2.

    Hello Callum!
    my name is Elisa and I come from Italy.

    I'm writing a dissertation about learning English using blogs. I wanted to ask you if I can interview you. I have already ask to Mitzi if she can do it too :)
    I'll be really grateful! :)

    Thank you in advance,
    Elisa

  • Comment number 3.

    Hello Callum,

    Welcome! So, you are standing in till Nuala comes back, aren't you? It'll be nice something. I enjoy your writing. How easy to read it out!

    I think, all the answers done by Oh are right except 1. In that sentence 'fell asleep' is okay.

    Ashish, Bangladesh.

  • Comment number 4.

    @oh - Well done, you correctly identified all the mistakes in the homework exercise.

    @Elisa - That sounds interesting. Send an email to learningenglish@bbc.co.uk with some more details and we'll see if we can help.

    @Ashish - Thanks for your nice words!

  • Comment number 5.

    Hi, My name's Marcelo and I'm from Brazil.

    I'm new here and I do not know what to write.

    Thank you
    Marcelo

  • Comment number 6.

    Hello Callum, It's nice to see you as a teacher blogger. I've just read your blog related to the experience of your new father and it's quite interesting to see the 50 years old bucket. Your writing is very easy and clear to understand. BTW, all the answers of 'Oh' is correct except the first one I think it's 'fall asleep'.
    Have a nice day!
    Mahjabeen.

  • Comment number 7.

    Hi!I'm Carmen and i write you from Bologna,Italy.
    I study law and i hope to learn english with you.Thanks!

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