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The Primavera English Blog
How to Improve Your English for the Duolingo English Test
Shana Goodwin
,
October 24, 2022
An increasing number of international ESL learners are taking the Duolingo English Test (DET) in preparation for studying in universities in North America, Europe, or Australia. Below we have outlined the most important language skills to master before you take the Duolingo English Test, as well as where to find resources so you can improve those skills...
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Improve English Pronunciation with Tongue Twisters, Part 3
Shana Goodwin
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August 15, 2022
As I have written in previous posts in this series, one great way to practice pronunciation is to learn tongue twisters – they are fun, challenging to the brain, and can show you which sounds you have a hard time pronouncing. Two sounds that can be especially difficult for native Spanish speakers who are learning English are “b” and “v,” because in Spanish, the two letters are pronounced almost identically...
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Bored or Boring: What’s the Difference?
Shana Goodwin
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July 12, 2022
Fortunately, there’s a pretty simple explanation: -ed adjectives usually describe emotions, or the way someone or something is feeling. And -ing adjectives usually describe the thing that is causing that emotion or feeling...
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New at Primavera: Duolingo English Test Prep Classes!
Shana Goodwin
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May 16, 2022
Primavera English is now offering classes to help our students prepare for the Duolingo English Test! Accepted by thousands of universities in North America, Europe, and Australia, this is an English proficiency test that can be taken online, on demand, and takes only about an hour to complete. We have designed our personalized course to help you reach your goals as you prepare to take the test...
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What Is the TOEFL, and When Should I Take It?
Shana Goodwin
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February 19, 2022
If you’re planning to study or live abroad, you may need to consider preparing for and taking the TOEFL iBT test. This test is the most widely used English language proficiency test in the world, and is known to be extremely rigorous. It is important to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for this test: it’s not easy!
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“Be” or “Have”?
Shana Goodwin
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January 17, 2022
Which one is correct: “I have twenty-four years” or “I am twenty-four”? Native Spanish speakers who are learning English often confuse the verbs “be” and “have” when talking about age. This is because in Spanish, the verb “tener” (to have) is used (“tengo veinticuatro años”), so it’s natural to simply translate this into “I have twenty-four years.” Unfortunately, however, this is incorrect. In English, the verb “be” (ser/estar) is used when talking about age: “I am twenty-four.”
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The Difference between “For” and “To”
Shana Goodwin
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November 18, 2021
The simplest explanation for knowing when to use “to” or “for” when talking about a reason or function is that “for” is followed by a noun or gerund, and “to” is followed by a verb. Examples: The ciclovía is a great place for walking and biking. The ciclovía is a great place to walk and bike...
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Restroom or Bathroom?
Shana Goodwin
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November 8, 2021
Almost all of my students have asked me this at some point: What’s the difference between “restroom” and “bathroom”? When should I use each? The answer is very simple: in my own house, I use “bathroom,” but when I’m in other people’s houses, or in public, I say “restroom.” ...
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How to Use “Since”
Shana Goodwin
,
October 15, 2021
In my classes with adults, or in my TOEFL prep classes, I often hear students confusing their usage of the words “since,” “from,” and “for.” “Since” is used to express the time duration for an action or state that started in the past and is still continuing in the present. It is used with the present perfect continuous or present perfect simple tenses...
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