Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

So, you've planned your big vacation and you are all set to practice those hard earned English skills of yours. But once you arrive to your final destination with all those native speakers around you become a deer in headlights, unable to speak or even articulate the simplest response to basic questions. Those around you assume you are deaf and start to scream, which makes you even more nervous and in turn even more silent. Has this ever happened to you? 

Have no fear, Shanglish is here! Sign up for our Fall Conversation Classes to gain the confidence and expression skills you need in order to make yourself heard and understood.

New Dictionary and Buzz Words

I recently came across a stupendous online dictionary which is a very practical tool for all you English language learners out there. The Macmillan Dictionary compares American English and British English and has a thesaurus all rolled into one. They've also got a whole section dedicated to Buzz Words. Don't know what a buzzword is? Check out the definition by clicking here.

In our English conversation classes at Ondas, one of the areas we focus on is pragmatics. According to the Macmillan Dictionary, pragmatics is "the study of how language is used in particular situations to express a meaning or attitude that may not be obvious from the actual words". In other words, you'll learn how to express yourself and convey messages more successfully in English. Join us this fall, and in the words of Macmillan: learn English, live English, love English.

Frugal Travelers

The New York Times has a great Travel Section with a weekly article called The Frugal Traveler.

In pairs, create your own Frugal Traveler Guide for the city of your choice. You can highlight accommodation, restaurants, transportation options, activities (cultural, adventure, touristic, etc.), seasonal discounts, fairs, special celebrations, landmarks, and more.