PET exam and books

[Sk_Anonymous]

Hi! I'm studying English with an american teacher (born in America and working for Trinity College). I did only one lesson, and today I'm doing second.
I bought [size=85](the past of buy, "comprare", it's correct?)[/size] this book that my teacher recommended me, and we work in (we did only 1A, food, unit).

I'm looking for italian book for PET exam (my exam is without speaking!) with correction of exercise. Do you have advice for me?
Thank you!

[Luca114]

"marcosocio":Hi everyone! I haven't been following this topic since the beginning due to school tasks (you know, May is the final rush). For my exams I've always used books by Cambridge University Press itself so I'd go for them. I don't know exactly what you mean by "Italian" book but, trust me...

Well there are people who don't like books because they think they are boring; people who don't like to sit at a table because they like to move around; others who study with computers: I honestly can't do everything with a computer, so I'd much rather have a book. Let's say that if you want to speak a fluent and grammatically correct English you'd better work quite harder, especially if, at school, teachers are strict.
Songs certanly help you to memorize new words but the results are quite slight.
I agree with the fact of studying on English books: as I have just said, they provide you the best ways of studying and a correct approach to the language.

[Sk_Anonymous]

"marcosocio":Hi everyone! I haven't been following this topic since the beginning due to school tasks (you know, May is the final rush). For my exams I've always used books by Cambridge University Press itself so I'd go for them. I don't know exactly what you mean by "Italian" book but, trust me, don't buy any book written by an Italian to study English! Generally speaking, to improve English my advice is always listen to the songs you like best and look for the lyrics (I gladly see gio73 has put it into practice ), watch films and read English websites. This way learning the language will become less stressing

[marcosocio]

Hi everyone! I haven't been following this topic since the beginning due to school tasks (you know, May is the final rush). For my exams I've always used books by Cambridge University Press itself so I'd go for them. I don't know exactly what you mean by "Italian" book but, trust me, don't buy any book written by an Italian to study English! Generally speaking, to improve English my advice is always listen to the songs you like best and look for the lyrics (I gladly see gio73 has put it into practice ), watch films and read English websites. This way learning the language will become less stressing

[Sk_Anonymous]

"gio73":[quote="giuliofis"]

How said our Luca we have to learn by heart*, in fact you have chose books about science fiction, your favourite kind (am I right?).

I didn't understand, sorry...

"Come diceva il nostro Luca noi dobbiamo imparare col cuore, infatti tu hai scelto dei libri di fantascienza, il tuo genere preferito (giusto?)
Purtroppo ho commesso un grave errore: l'espressione "imparare col cuore" in inglese equivale a "imparare a memoria"[/quote]
Aaah, ok! It's my favourite kind, you're right!
Try with Firefox to open books and audios!

[gio73]

"giuliofis":

How said our Luca we have to learn by heart*, in fact you have chose books about science fiction, your favourite kind (am I right?).

I didn't understand, sorry...

"Come diceva il nostro Luca noi dobbiamo imparare col cuore, infatti tu hai scelto dei libri di fantascienza, il tuo genere preferito (giusto?)
Purtroppo ho commesso un grave errore: l'espressione "imparare col cuore" in inglese equivale a "imparare a memoria"

[Sk_Anonymous]

"gio73":I can't open book and audio sample, I don't know why.

Did you try with Firefox?

did you try listen to English lessons on Rai scuola?

I haven't TV in my universitary home. It's for choise.

How said our Luca we have to learn by heart*, in fact you have chose books about science fiction, your favourite kind (am I right?).

I didn't understand, sorry...

[gio73]

Sorry Giulio, I can't open book and audio sample, I don't know why.
Neverrheless I'm reading audio books me too, now "The hound of the Baskervilles" written by A.C. Doyle that I have received from my collegue: it is an old book in fact there is a tape including, not CD. Fortunately I'm old me too and I've got a tape player.
I think very useful listenig tape, CD, TV (did you try listen to English lessons on Rai scuola?)...
First you understand nothing, but listening after listening you start take some words and suddenly you can follow speech. How said our Luca we have to learn by heart*, in fact you have chose books about science fiction, your favourite kind (am I right?).

Edit: I made an awful mistake * "to learn by heart" means "to memorize", instead I meant "to feel happy while we are reading interesting things"

[Sk_Anonymous]

"gio73":I think it is better "I want to read" and "an audio".

You're right! They are "errori di distrazione".

Now, I'm going to open that web-site. See you later.

Thank you teacher!

[gio73]

"giuliofis":Hi! I want to buy these books and CD:
In the beginning, I want read Alien Alert in Seattle, for A2 level.
In a second moment (one month before my exam), I want read Journey to the Centre of the Earth (simplified by Jennifer Gascoigne), for preparation of PET exam.
In the web-site of books, you can find a audio and book sample.
In your opinion, is it a good idea?

I think it is better "I want to read" and "an audio".

Now, I'm going to open that web-site. See you later.

[Sk_Anonymous]

Hi! I want to buy these books and CD:
In the beginning, I want read Alien Alert in Seattle, for A2 level.
In a second moment (one month before my exam), I want read Journey to the Centre of the Earth (simplified by Jennifer Gascoigne), for preparation of PET exam.
In the web-site of books, you can find a audio and book sample.
In your opinion, is it a good idea?

[gio73]

Good mornig Luca

"Luca":Thanks for telling us, that's interesting!
Get ahead (it is written with no spaces) is a phrasal verb and it means "make progress".

Oh! I thought "get a head" means "to dedicate oneself to study" (metterci la testa)

[Luca114]

Thanks for telling us, that's interesting!
Get ahead (it is written with no spaces) is a phrasal verb and it means "make progress". In English there are more than 500 phrasal verbs. Only a mother tangue teacher could know all of them including their all meanings.
And, as for online translators: if you need to find just a word or expression, try my favourite dictionary and language forum: http://www.wordreference.com/

Have a nice day

[gio73]

"Luca":
Just a curiosity: are you a maths teacher trying to get ahead with English? You look very interested! Did you have English lessons in the past?

Yes, I'm a maths teacher and I'm trying to get a head with English. I'm trying to get a head with several things, like History. Last night I read on my old schoolbook the Rome's birth.
In the past, whe I was in high school I studied French. When I was student at University I had to read English text, so I have learnt a bit.
Now I am actually enapt, but I am ostinate.

"Luca":
To all: if you want me to correct your English (well, the mistakes I'm able to correct), just let me know.

I am here! I couldn't ask for more.

[Luca114]

"gio73":Well let's say I'm studying English very hard in the last two years
I translate: Bene, diciamo che sto studiando inglese molto duramente da due anni
are you agree with me?

Yes, this is how, in English, we use to express the duration form. In fact, now I'm still studying it.

"gio73":when I started the high school (last year) I was extremely unfriendly with the language because of the different type of course I wanted to take, called "veicolare"
I don't understand...
"quando ho iniziato la scuola superiore (lo scorso anno) io ero molto poco pratico con il linguaggio (Do you mean speaking skill?) perchè ... io volevo naturalmente prendere ... del tipo differente..."

Here the words "unfriendly with the language" would be literally translated as "poco amichevole con la lingua" but you can surely notice by yourself that this is an English expression. English expressions (especially idioms) must be learnt by heart (here another expression ), because you can not rely on your ears (another one).
So the meaning is: ero molto impacciato or poco confidente con la lingua... (can we say "impacciato" in italian? anyway... ).
Then, because of is another expression, and it cannot be transated literally: it means due to.
So in the sentence because of the different type of course I wanted to take... the meaning is:
I was extremely unfriendly with the language, this is because or this fact is because, this fact is due to...

"gio73":Regarding the sentence: I agree with you, in this case is certainly better to use the present perfect, even though some British people are very friendly in using either the past simple and the present perfect.
Translation
Riguardo la frase: sono d'accordo con te, in questo caso è meglio usare il present perfect, anche se molti inglesi usano indifferentemente il past simple e il present perfect

Ok!
You've only forgot the word "certainly", which is an intensifier (=rafforzativo). I imagine you know the translation. Now you also know the best translation for "to be friendly / unfriendly with".

Just a curiosity: are you a maths teacher trying to get ahead with English? You look very interested! Did you have English lessons in the past?

To all: if you want me to correct your English (well, the mistakes I'm able to correct), just let me know.
In the meanwhile, here another tip to improve and/or revise both your grammar and vocaboulary: when you learn a new word or expression (idiom, way to say, etc.), then think and write down three sentences using them. It's a method that gave proof to work pretty well .

[gio73]

Thanks for your answer Luca.
Can I ask some explainatios?

"Luca":

Well let's say I'm studying English very hard in the last two years

I translate: Bene, diciamo che sto studiando inglese molto duramente da due anni
If you have written "Well let's say I studied English very hard in the last two years", I have to translate so:
Bene diciamo che ho studiato Inglese molto duramente negli ultimi due anni
In the first sentence I understand you are yet studying English, in the second one I undestand you have stopped studying.
If we change just the tense, it changes meaning, are you agree with me?

"Luca":
when I started the high school (last year) I was extremely unfriendly with the language because of the different type of course I wanted to take, called "veicolare"

I don't understand...
"quando ho iniziato la scuola superiore (lo scorso anno) io ero molto poco pratico con il linguaggio (Do you mean speaking skill?) perchè ... io volevo naturalmente prendere ... del tipo differente..."

"Luca":
Regarding the sentence: I agree with you, in this case is certainly better to use the present perfect, even though some British people are very friendly in using either the past simple and the present perfect.

Translation
Riguardo la frase: sono d'accordo con te, in questo caso è meglio usare il present perfect, anche se molti inglesi usano indifferentemente il past simple e il present perfect

[Luca114]

"gio73"::D Welcome Luca in this section of forum,
do you study English at school? Do you follow also a private English course?
Have you been in UK or another country where people speak English?[quote="LucaM"]
I did =had only one lesson

In your opinion can I write "I have had* only one lesson"?

*is present perfect better than simple past in this sentece?[/quote]

Well let's say I'm studying English very hard in the last two years; when I started the high school (last year) I was extremely unfriendly with the language because of the different type of course I wanted to take, called "veicolare" ; it's our school's challenge. In this project English is used as a “vehicle” to teach specific subjects or topics within a subject. It offers students the opportunity to learn using English in a “real” learning environment helping them improve their skills and fluency.
The subjects in English includes: English, religion, history, geography, sciences (biology this year), history of art and FCE practice lessons (IELTS next year). Some of them are not taught for the whole year.
All the teachers are English mother tongue and qualified to teach in the different levels of the school or a particular specialty subject.
I've been several times in the U.K. (Queen Margaret University and another one...) and lots of times in the U.S.A.; for the language, English is definitely better... not for the places though.

Regarding the sentence: I agree with you, in this case is certainly better to use the present perfect, even though some British people are very friendly in using either the past simple and the present perfect.
Following your comment, I have discovered that "according to me" is grammatically incorrect (but according to you, my friend, him... is correct!). I'd better use "in my opinion" or, in a funnier way, "according to my mind ".

[gio73]

Welcome Luca in this section of forum,
do you study English at school? Do you follow also a private English course?
Have you been in UK or another country where people speak English?

"LucaM":
I did =had only one lesson

In your opinion can I write "I have had* only one lesson"?

*is present perfect better than simple past in this sentece?

[Luca114]

What a pity that you'd like to study on an italian book! They're worse than the one's in the native language,trust me!
You'd better tack up your sleeves and study harder on the original one, written by Cambridge Esol Examinations, you can find it in any stationery shop or library.
I also advise you PET Gold (Jacky Newbrook & Judith Wilson) Pearson Longman which was the one I used to study with.

P.S.: remember
I did =had only one lesson, and today I'm having the second one.

[Stellinelm]

Well, I just wanted to quickly say good evening

[ot]p.s. : I hope we meet again[/ot]

[Sk_Anonymous]

Hi teacher Gio!

"gio73":
Why do you want to use an Italian book?

Because I'm studying in after lessons, after course, when the teacher won't be!
Italian isn't necessary, but corrections are very necessary.

Did you study English at high school?

Yes and no, I did and I didn't. Once, when I went to teaching post [size=85](in italian "cattedra": it's correct?)[/size] for hear lesson, the secondary school teacher said: "TU SEI PAZZO!"...

Will you have to do a listening test?

If I undestand your question, I responde: I'll try with my teacher.

Now I am listening English songs for improve listening skill. What's your favourite singer?

I hear almost classical music (I love Bach, Scarlatti, Corelli... All of the Baroque!); but I like Led Zeppelin and Avantasia. But the music is too hard for me!

I haven't my secondary English test for PET: I have only First-B2 book...