20 08, 2012

English Lesson: Plan Vs Plan On Vs Plan to

Jack is planning for the meeting

Let’s look at how to use the verb plan today. First of all, plan takes a direct object, and can be followed directly by a noun, so plan + [noun] like this:

  • I am planning a trip to Asia.
  • The marketing department planned a meeting in Chicago.
  • When will you begin planning your wedding.

We can also use plan + [to verb], like this:

  • I am planning to go to Asia.
  • The marketing department planned to hold the meeting in Chicago.
  • When do you plan to get married?

We can also use plan + for. Plan + for means to arrange or organize something, just like plan + [noun] like this:

  • I am planning for my trip to Asia,
  • Jane is planning for her wedding.
  • Tom is in the office planning for the meeting in Chicago.

We can also use plan + on + gerund (VerbING) like this:

  • I am planning on going to Asia,
  • Jane is planning on getting married in October.
  • The marketing department planned on holding the meeting in Chicago.

Are you planning to do something? Leave a comment here and let us know!

19 08, 2012

Happy English News! Our New English Teacher, Jackie

We are excited to welcome Jackie to Happy English

Happy English is proud to introduce our new English Tutor, Ms. Jackie Hadden. I have known Jackie since 1998 and she is both an amazing person, and a great English teacher.

Jackie came to New York to work as an English teacher in 1997, and has worked with students of all ages for over twenty years. She graduated from university in Canada with a degree in Linguistics and an additional TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) diploma. After spending three years teaching and traveling in Japan, she moved to the U.S., living first in San Francisco while earning another language teaching certificate, and then settling in New York. She has traveled to more than twenty countries, and feels lucky that her job lets her mix two of her favorite things – her love of language and her passion for learning about other cultures. She looks forward to sharing both of those things with you at Happy English.

18 08, 2012

One-Point English Lesson: Using Spend & Take

When you talk about time, you can use spend and take. We talked about take a few weeks ago. The meaning is the same but the way we use these words is different.

When we use spend, we usually put the person using the time as the subject of the sentence.

  • Jack said he spent an hour in traffic going to work.
  • Jen said spends about three hours when she makes homemade bread.

When we use take, we usually use it as the subject. As you know, it is used as the subject of the sentence when we take about time:

  • Jack said it took an hour in traffic going to work.
  • Jen said it takes about three hours to make homemade bread.

Be careful! We don’t use the subject I with took:

  • I took about three hours to make homemade bread.

How much time do you usually spend getting to work or school?

17 08, 2012

Kaplan International Launches App for International Students

Here’s great news for international students! Kaplan international colleges has announced the launch of their My Kaplan app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running iOS 4.3 or higher.

This amazing app provides everything a Kaplan English learning student needs to make their study abroad adventure easier. The app includes information such as contact data for banks, doctors and police, as well as cultural details about residences and home-stays. It’s a perfect tool for students on the go. Created to satisfy a learner’s need for information on the move, this app enables students studying with Kaplan to stay connected wherever they may be.

Using the My Kaplan app, students taking English language courses have the ability to check their first day schedule, travel details and even get a taste of the Kaplan experience. Students can view videos of their chosen language school and see interviews and feedback from past students.  Right now, the app contains information about every Kaplan English language school in the UK and Ireland.

Here are some of the key features of the My Kaplan App:

1st Day Information

  • Arrival Time
  • Important Documents
  • Schedule

Transport

  • Travel details from nearby Airports
  • Coach, railway and car-service information

Residence Information:

  • Addresses and Google Map details
  • Check In and Check Out Info

Host Family Information:

  • Cultural Information
  • Family Rules
  • What to Bring

Local Information

  • Phone numbers for Doctors, Dentists, Police and Banks

This is an amazing tool, and you can download it for free at the Apple store via iTunes. Check it out!