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Get ready to spread some festive cheer and learn English at the same time! We’ve got some classic Christmas movies to recommend that are not only fun to watch, but also provide a great way to immerse yourself in English language and culture. In this blog, we’ll share our must-watch movie list and tips on how to learn while enjoying them.
Introducing your child to the world of literature is a beautiful way to spark their imagination and creativity while reducing screen time. Our carefully curated list of 10 must-read books for kids will ignite a passion for reading and transport them to magical new worlds. And at the same time, they will also advance their English skills.
Learning how to agree or disagree in English is essential for language learners. It requires confidence, clarity, politeness, and courtesy in expressing opinions verbally or in writing. This article explores how to express opinions and offers helpful phrases for formal and informal settings.
If you’re looking to improve your English speaking skills, it’s important to understand that speaking should be seen as both a goal and a learning strategy. Speaking is not just a means to an end – it’s also the key to mastering the language. In this blog we’ll give you all the tips to ensure English speaking success!
It’s a common question among those who speak English as a second language – “What is my level of English?” Whether it’s for personal reasons, academic pursuits, or career goals, knowing your English proficiency is essential. Let me assist you in finding out where you stand with your English language skills.
Everyone talks about learning English with movies, but it requires more effort than passively watching a movie. Our guide will explore the art of blending entertainment with education, and provide you with effective techniques, recommended films, and actionable tips.
Have you ever experienced difficulty understanding a text in English? It’s a common feeling. But, how can you improve your English reading skills? In this blog, we will discuss different types of reading and skills, and provide some tips. By understanding these skills, you can easily develop your English reading skills.
Are you looking for an official English qualification? The Cambridge Certificate in English might be the ideal certification for your needs since they offer a variety of exams that cover different needs and levels. The Cambridge Certificate is an English language certificate issued by Cambridge University in England for non-native speakers. Every year, over three million people from 130 countries take the exams. The certificate confirms qualified English skills and is recognised internationally by various schools, universities and companies. The exams are set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and are offered in the following categories: General English, Vocational English (e.g. Business English), Academic English, English for Children and Teaching Qualifications. The certificate has no validity date, it is valid for life.
An overview of the different English levels and examination grades:
The Key English Test (abbreviated KET) is the easiest test offered by Cambridge University. It corresponds to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The Preliminary English Test (PET) is a test that requires an intermediate level of English. It tests the four skills of writing, reading, listening and speaking, using examples from everyday life.
The First Certificate in English (FCE), sometimes just called First, is the first ESOL exam. The abbreviation ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages; since 2013 this exam has borne the new name Cambridge English Language Assessment. The First Certificate in English is an internationally recognised certificate and corresponds roughly to the TOEFL test in terms of requirements and level. It is also valid for life.
The Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) is the second-highest ESOL certificate. It enables its holders to study at British universities.
The Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) is the most sought-after certificate. The CPE is aimed at non-native speakers who have reached a very high level of English and can speak confidently and without error in a variety of situations. The certificate is required at many universities for English-language degree programmes, but often the less complex CAE or FCE certificates are also sufficient. As the highest ESOL certificate, the CPE is also one level above the internationally recognised Business English Certificate of the highest level (BEC Higher). With this certificate, it is possible to apply to any English-speaking university in the world.
You can find further information about all the Cambridge certificate exams on their official website.
The Business English Certificates (BEC) are examinations for business English that are based on real situations from everyday business life. They are offered for levels B1, B2 and C1 and can also be taken on the computer. THE BEC is available in three different levels:
The International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) is primarily aimed at lawyers and law students.
The International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE) was designed for the financial sector and is also aimed at students from this sector.
The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) is an English test that companies and other institutions take to assess the English level of their employees. It primarily tests language skills related to the job in question. The test can be taken on the computer or under strict regulations in the company – both online and in paper form.
The cost of Cambridge exams depends on the level and type of test. However, candidates should expect to pay between 150 and 200 euros. You can only take the test at certified test centres. There are now test centres in over 135 countries around the world, mostly in universities, adult education centres or language schools. Here in Malta, too, there are various institutions where Cambridge exams are taken. BELS not only supports you in your exam preparation but also helps you with your exam registration.
Get personal consultation and a study-plan based on your needs by writing to us at info@belsmalta.com.
We’re all used to reading summaries, yet we’re not always taught how to write a summary in English. Summaries can be found everywhere, from book covers to product descriptions to online review sites. However, no matter how many summaries you’ve read, writing your own when you need to can be challenging. Follow our guide to get it right.
A summary is a shorter description of a longer text that summarises all the important points. It provides an overview so that you don’t have to read the whole text to get an idea of the content. Summaries exist for books, films and many other media. And yet, even if you have already read some summaries, it can still be difficult to write your own. Today we want to help you write your own summary.
Summary writing is about presenting the highlights of a text and leaving out anything unimportant. A summary of Hamlet would include only the most important points about the action, Polonius’ murder for example – leaving out things that are not relevant, such as his soliloquy to thine own self be true.
You can follow 4 steps to write a good summary:
The first step is obvious: Read or look carefully at what you want to write your summary about.
If you want to write a summary about a book, for example, there is always the temptation to work with other summaries from the internet. But especially as a beginner, you should avoid this, because it is difficult to assess which sources are really reliable. In addition, you can run the risk of plagiarism.
Next, start preparing and write down some key points about your text. Use your memory. What things did you remember when you read the text? This way, you can weed out unnecessary information. But also think about what is really important and less about what might only interest you. You may have to read the text several times to filter the information correctly. You might also divide the text into sections and think of a suitable heading for each section.
Now turn your bullet points into a text. Follow the order of events in the text or film.
It is important to use only your own words. Of course, you can use direct and indirect quotations and refer to passages in the text, but on the whole you should use your own language to make the summary unique. Also, remember to write the summary for someone who has no idea about the text – they should still know what the text is about at the end. Also pay attention to structuring transitions, don’t just line up sentence after sentence, use adverbs (however, as a result, meanwhile). Furthermore, you should avoid first-person constructions and your own opinion is inappropriate here. A summary is always written in the simple present tense.
The last step is to revise. Now you need to correct mistakes and remove inappropriate words. Also cut out unnecessary sentences, so you have more space to elaborate on the important information. It’s also a good idea to check the transitions.
Sometimes a lot of details are described in the source text but they are mostly unnecessary for your summary. Try to concentrate on the most important information. Also, do not add any new information to your summary, and avoid speaking in the first and second person- ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘we’ constructions have no place in your text. Narrative elements such as ‘suddenly’ are inappropriate and literal speech is also not to be used in your summary.
Finally, we would like to give you a few helpful phrases that you can learn and use in your own summary. They will bring your text to a higher level, show the reader that you have dealt with the text type summary and give the result professionalism.
We can provide personalised lessons to help you overcome your challenges and teach you how to write a summary in English. Lessons will be based on your needs and adapted along the way. Individual lessons can be held online at one of our schools in Malta and Gozo.
Get in touch to discuss a personalised learning plan.
550 West, St.Paul's Str, St.Paul's Bay, Malta
+35627055577 info@belsmalta.com +35677516971
Triq Ta' Doti, Kerċem, Gozo
+35627055577 info@belsmalta.com +35677516971
