giovedì 6 novembre 2014

Useful information on dictionaries and web sites


Dictionaries

Monolingual Dictionary

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (OALD)
www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com
This is the best monolingual learner’s dictionary of English. A learner’s dictionary gives special help with the things language learners need—irregular forms, dependent prepositions, formal/informal language, particular grammar, etc.

Bilingual  Dictionaries

Use a monolingual dictionary to understand how to use new vocabulary (for example when you want to write). Use a bilingual dictionary when you need to quickly check the meaning of a specific term.

IL RAGAZZINI 2012,  Dizionario Inglese-Italiano, Italian-English, Zanichelli (print)

Corriera della Sera
http://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_inglese/
 Collins Reverso  
http://dictionary.reverso.net/italian-english/  
Word Reference
http://www.wordreference.com/

Other dictionaries
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/italian_1
http://www.stars21.com/dictionary/English-Italian_dictionary.html
British National Corpus
http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/
A corpus is the raw material of dictionaries. Look up any word or expression to see examples of how it combines with other words in native-speaker English.
Grammar Exercise Books
Essential Grammar in Use – Raymond Murphy, Cambridge University Press 
English Grammar in Use – Raymond Murphy, Cambridge University Press
Advanced  Grammar in Use – Martin Hewings, Cambridge University Press 
Grammar Reference Book
Practical English Usage – Michael Swan, Oxford University Press

Sites where you can study English

Here is a site where you can check and practice grammar structures:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar
(from here you can also access reading and other resources)
There is also:
http://vivquarry.com/wkshts/

e.g. http://vivquarry.com/wkshts/linkwd2.html
and
http://esl.about.com/od/writingadvanced/a/wc_addition.htm

but the best sites are:
Exam English Free Practice Tests for learners of English
http://examenglish.com/cambridge_esol.php
for lots of free practice material at different levels (about this more later) 
and   BBC Learning English
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish new address
and http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/  old address (but still active)
you should explore the site. For example:
is for listening practice and dictation

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/

is for grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation

Other sites where you can practice English

iTunes U (via iTunes , which you must install)
http://www.apple.com/it/education/itunes-u/
video and audio podcasts of university lectures and courses. See how your subject is taught in English.
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design)  
http://www.ted.com/
Fantastic presentations from some of the most innovative people in the world. Watching presentations is a really good way to practice comprehension.
The Purdue Online Writing Lab
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Online distance courses (MOOCs – Massive open online course)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course
http://www.bdpa-detroit.org/portal/index.php?Itemid=20&catid=29:education&id=57:moocs-top-10-sites-for-free-education-with-elite-universities&option=com_content&view=article
http://www.moocs.co/
http://www.mooc-list.com/
TV Channels
The aim here is to listen and improve your comprehension, stay up to date (so you should also follow the telegiornale in Italian) and absorb some of the language.
BBC
France 24 in English
Aljazeera in English
You can also get a wide range of live TV channels on:
and shows on:

lunedì 3 novembre 2014

Conversation lessons

The Tandem groups at the University of California (Piazza dell'Orologio) will be on Wednesday morning (no longer on Thursday morning.): Nov 5, 12, 19 from 9.30 to 11.00. Our students will speak in English for 45 minutes with the Americans and in in Italian for 45 minutes. All students are welcome to participate. Up to 60 of our students can go each time so it's best if they sign up on the sheet in the lettori room near the bar.
Edward Lynch

domenica 2 novembre 2014

un aggiornamento

faccio ricevimento sempre di lunedì
ore: 12.30-14.15
stanza 103 o la stanza di Prof.ssa Montini
Dipartimento di Anglistica,
primo piano,
Villa Mirafiori

Didattica:  Lettorato del Primo Anno 2014-2015

 con Chris Young
 
Gruppo A6 studenti H-M
                            lunedì 8,30-10,30 aula V
                            sabato10,30-12,30 aula V

Gruppo A7 studenti N-R
                            lunedì 10,30-12,30 aula V
                            sabato 8,30-10,30 aula VI