Sunday, September 28, 2014

IELTS Reading - Free Online Course - October 11 & 18

Registration is now closed! 

Thank you to those who registered. I'm looking forward to doing an amazing course with you! Please check your email regularly until we start on October 11. 

If you're still interested in taking this course, then please leave your email on the course websitehttp://faizaraintree.wix.com/course-registration.


Okay, I just opened up registration for WHAT'S THE QUESTION?, my free online IELTS Reading course. 

CLICK HERE to register
http://faizaraintree.wix.com/course-registration

I'm taking a maximum of 20 students, so please don't delay. 

Here's the link for my free course WHAT'S THE QUESTION


Hope to see you there!


Thank you for visiting!
Faiza Raintree

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Downtown Abbey - ESL Worksheet - IELTS

Hello, and thank you for visiting!

I've been away for a long time - much longer than I wanted to be, but am back in business. I'm actually working on an IELTS-related project which I hope to talk about soon. Today's worksheet comes out of that and I hope I will have more such pages for you in the future!

This worksheet is about Downtown Abbey, an extremely popular British television show. You'll need to download the worksheet to view it and use it.

I'm excited to announce that I'll be doing a free online IELTS Reading course very soon. I'll be teaching it live and I want to make it as interactive as possible. Spaces are limited to 20 students. If you're interested in improving your IELTS Reading score in the next few weeks, visit my blog this Tuesday (September 30) for registration!



Thanks again for visiting and have a great week!

DOWNTOWN ABBEY
Painting of a mother and daughter

At first glance, Downtown Abbey is nothing more than a quietly charming television show. Look closer, however, and you will find it is much more than that. In fact, it seems that this British television drama series has taken the world by storm since it started in 2010. At least 200 million people have watched Downtown Abbey at least once. You will find devoted fans all around the world, in countries such as the United States, China and Sweden. More than 100 countries have broadcast rights.

For those who are new to Downtown Abbey, it is basically an elegant "soap opera" set in the early 1900s. It is about the aristocratic Crawley family. Downtown Abbey's success is a pleasant surprise to the producers and actors, but should one really be surprised? When the right elements come together, success must follow. Downtown Abbey has all the ingredients to make it a popular show.

The main reason for Downtown Abbey's success is, of course, the actors. They are experienced, controlled and possess enormous skill. Watching them, you feel as if you are watching actual events. For example, when Branson the chauffer tells Lady Mary Crawley that her sister Lady Sybil was hurt in a riot, Lady Mary's shock and concern are played just right. There is just enough emotion, but also the restraint that was expected of women in Lady Mary's class at the time. Other characters are also memorable. Lord Grantham behaves like the gentleman he is expected to be and the Dowager Countess can be sharp at times. The actors are as convincing as they come.

For those who need more than just a well-told story, the costumes and scenery provide as much entertainment as the plot. The clothing is gorgeous - historically accurate and elegant. Lady Mary looks like a princess and Lady Edith Crawley's figure and costume are flawless. The English countryside is breathtaking. The exterior and most of the interior shots are of Highclere Castle in Hampshire. Highclere's library is peaceful and befits a gentleman - a perfect refuge for Lord Crawley. The homes and gardens in the village are quaint. Everything is a treat for the eyes, from start to finish.

Many films can boast great lines, beautiful actors and marvelous clothes. However, not many compel millions of viewers to gather each week to watch them. The true secret behind Downtown Abbey's success is that it sells a lifestyle, an experience, that is out of reach and yet is fascinating to people everywhere. The Crawleys live an upstairs-downstairs way of life. The staff, who live in the basement, serve the aristocratic family who inhabit the home. The Crawley family members have their share of problems and heartache. Yet they suffer in the midst of luxury and privilege. These things share universal appeal to people around the world, regardless of nationality, financial background or social status. Many people want to be rich, elegant and respected. Downtown Abbey provides a glimpse into a fantasy world where people enjoy such advantages.

Thank you for visiting!
Faiza Raintree


To download the worksheet for this article, please click below.

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Saturday, March 22, 2014

IELTS Worksheet - Breakfast Around the World

Good Morning & Happy Monday!

Today's worksheet is a reading with two IELTS-style tasks - comprehension questions and a Writing Task 1. I've also included an answer key for the comprehension questions.

You'll need to download the worksheet to view it and use it.

If you're interested in improving your IELTS Reading score in the next few weeks, visit my blog this Tuesday (September 30, 2014)  to register for a free online course! Space is limited to 20 students.


Thank you for visiting and have a great week!

BREAKFAST AROUND THE WORLD
Illustration of cereal, milk, juice and fruit

Breakfast is different around the world. In many areas, people eat food for breakfast that Americans would have for lunch or dinner. Breakfast in other parts of the world would be dessert or a snack in some countries. 

China

What do people eat in China for breakfast? China is a very big country and not everyone has the same thing. However, many people in China have congee and steamed dumplings. Congee is a type of rice porridge. The rice is cooked with a lot of water, until it is like a thick soup. Some Chinese may also have steamed buns. The steamed bun may be filled with meat or vegetables.

Europe

Breakfast in Europe differs with each country. However, one will find that, in the colder countries such as Germany and Austria, it is common to have a heavier breakfast with meats, eggs and plenty of cheese. In warmer countries, breakfast is lighter, with more breads and pastries and light cheeses and yogurts.

Continental Breakfast

People in Europe have different foods for lunch depending on the country. Yet, in the past 50 years, hotels and restaurants may serve a light breakfast that is common all around Europe. This breakfast is called a continental breakfast. It combines foods that are found in parts of Europe such as England, Italy and France. For a typical continental breakfast, one may have coffee and milk. There will also be a kind of sweet bread and butter and jam to go with it. Other items are added to these items such as sliced cold meats, fruit, cheese, yogurt and boiled eggs. Hot chocolate, tea and juice are also common drinks. 

Turkey

Breakfast in Turkey is similar to what one may find in Middle Eastern countries, but with more items. At a typical breakfast in Turkey, one will find bread, farmer's cheese, butter, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, Turkish clotted cream, spicy sausage and sliced cold meats. Variations for Turkish breakfast are endless. One will also find little meat pies called kaymak, bagels, soups, and spicy omelets. To drink, one will have Turkish tea.

Nigeria

Breakfast in Nigeria is different from place to place, with over 250 different groups living there. In the North, people may have cakes made from ground beans with a sweet porridge called Koko. In the South, people have Ogi, a sweet porridge made from corn or millet and milk. This porridge is eaten with other foods. A common side to have with Ogi is moi moi. Moi moi is a cake made from bean paste. The bean paste is wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed. Once it is ready, the bean cake emerges a lovely pink color. Moi moi can be either sweet or savory. Savory Moi moi will have onions or chili peppers in it.

Thank you for visiting!
Faiza Raintree


To download the worksheet for this article, please click below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz6h50hL_ljVeTVsbmY5RnRjSWM/edit?usp=sharing

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