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Intermediate

Happy Holidays Review 2016

A review of highlights from Simple English Videos in 2016. Jay and Vicki look back on some of the events and their favourite comedy skits and sketches. Click here for more hang out and Q & A videos Hello everyone. Welcome to the end of 2016 show. We’re going to look back at some of our favourite clips. And stay tuned for an important announcement about our new lesson schedule and about out live show

December 24, 2016 No Comments

Intermediate

The suffix -ion (-tion, -sion)

Learn how we can use the (very useful and very common) suffix -ion to turn many English verbs into nouns. Click here to see more videos about prefixes and suffixes. The ion suffix video I have a question. If a word ends in -ion, what kind of word is it? It’s probably a noun, a thing. We often add -ion to verbs to create nouns. Competition. Persuasion. So compete is the verb. We add -ion

December 13, 2016 7 Comments

Intermediate

Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys

Here’s one of the happiest songs in the world from the Beach Boys. English learners should sing along because it also provides excellent practice of the meanings and pronunciation of the suffix -ion. I-I love the colorful clothes she wears And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair I hear the sound of a gentle word On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air I’m picking up good vibrations She’s giving me

December 13, 2016 No Comments

Intermediate

The very first English Show! (used to be – used to doing)

We tried streaming live on YouTube for the first time today. 20 minutes before the start we’d run all the checks and our lights, camera and sound all worked perfectly. Apart from a few butterflies in my stomach, we were set to go. 4 minutes before the start my mike stoped working, Jase’s audio connection fell out of synch and our dog Carter heard someone outside and went nuts. It was chaos! Oh things used

December 12, 2016 No Comments

Intermediate

Q&A 5 Language change, word frequencies, effectual, autumn, fall and our live show

A question and answer session where Vicki and Jay answer viewers’ questions about the English language. They look at the words efficient, effective and effectual, language change, hyphens and also fall and autumn. Click here if you’d like to know more about the words efficient and effective. Transcript: Oh look, here we are again Jay. Yes, this lesson is a Q & A – question and answer. We haven’t done one of these for a

December 6, 2016 No Comments

Elementary

Pay – learn how we use this verb with different prepositions

Pay! This English verb can be tricky because we use it with different prepositions. Learn the rules we follow and fix some common mistakes. Click here to see more vocabulary videos Click here to download our free checklist on common mistakes How to use the verb pay in English video script Yes? I’d like to return this sweater. Do you have the receipt? No, I’m sorry. I lost it. Did you pay by credit card?

November 29, 2016 7 Comments

Intermediate

Listen and Hear. What’s the difference in meaning?

The verbs listen and hear can be confusing for English learners. In this video we learn how English speakers use them and fix some common mistakes. These verbs can be confusing. They have similar meanings but we use them in different ways so in this lesson you’ll learn how to use them correctly. Let’s start with hear. When our ears pick up sounds, we hear. If the number dialed is busy, you will hear the

November 22, 2016 7 Comments

Elementary

Eavesdropping Conversation – Let Me Hear

If someone is eavesdropping, it means they are listening secretly to what other people are saying. Jay is trying to hear Kathy’s conversation when Vicki comes by and takes over. This video is part of a larger project we worked on about the verbs ‘listen’ and ‘hear’. What are you doing? Shhh. Kathy’s on the phone with the head office. Really? Yeah, she’s talking about our bonuses. Ooo. What’s she saying? I really can’t hear

November 15, 2016 2 Comments

Elementary

Do You Have the Receipt? An English Shopping Conversation

Have you ever bought something and then had to take it back to the store? Did you need the receipt? A receipt is a document that shows you have paid for something. Click here to learn some different ways we use the verb ‘pay’ in English Click here to find more conversations for English speaking practice. English shopping conversation script Yes? I’d like to return this sweater. Do you have the receipt? No, I’m sorry.

November 15, 2016 No Comments

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