Contents

=> 5 VANITY PLATES — warm-up activity
=> GOOGLE FOR LANGUAGE LEARNERS –internet tips
=> INTERNATIONAL TEACHER/LEARNER POLL –Help me!
=> In the Next Issue

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5 Vanity Plates
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Vanity plates are personalized number plates on cars. They usually convey a message about the driver. For example: LUV 2 LAF. The meaning of that is pretty clear: “love to laugh.”

Now try to figure out these next 5 (or ask your students to do it as a warm up activity).

1. RUNUOVR

2. L8 4 DNR

3. EDUK8TR
4. ATA2D

5. XQZ ME

Answers after “Google For Language Learners”

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Google For Language Learners
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If you use the Internet, you know that the way to find ANYTHING fast is by going to Google (www.google.com). I’m going to give you some Google tips, especially for teachers and learners of English. But first….

Did you know that Google is a Russian-American venture–sort of? Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin (from Moscow) when both were graduate students at Stanford University (only 40 kilometers from Kevin’s
California home).

TIPS

1. Testing English Usage

On the Google page,under the big word “GOOGLE,” you’ll see the words WEB,
IMAGE, GROUP, DIRECTORY, NEWS.

Click on GROUPS. Google will search millions of messages written in very
current natural English. Let’s say you wanted examples of the phrasal verb
“figure out.” I typed “figure out” into the GROUP search and received 2.7 million
examples.

Or let’s say there’s a specific expression (like “ticks me off”) you have heard, but don’t know the meaning of. I typed “ticks me off” into the GROUP search engine and got 56,000 examples. The examples on the first page or two are enough to let you deduce phrase’s meaning.

The GROUP search is your way to unlimited examples of any English word or expression.

2. Dictionary on Google Toolbar
Type in any word (say, “unctuous”) in the search box and click. Below the search box you’ll see a blue bar and “searched for the word unctuous.” “Unctuous” will be underlined. Click on it, and you will be shown a dictionary definition.

And of course if you want to see how “unctuous” is used, click on the GROUP search for examples.

3. GOOGLE TOOL BAR
I do up to 100 searches every day using Google. That’s why I installed the Google Tool Bar. That means that anytime I use the Internet I see, at the top of the page, a little Google box, so I’m always ready to do a search. The Google Tool Bar also allows you the option of searching a particular
web SITE you. So if you read an article on the TESOL
web site, or ESP WORLD, and you want to find it again,
Google will do it fast.

The Google Tool bar can be download in minutes
(www.toolbar.google.com). It’s free!

There’s a lot more to Google than I mention here. If
you have time and want to learn more, take the
quick Google tour at www.google.com/tour/1.html.

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Vanity Plate Answers
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1. RUNUOVR = run you over (to strike or go over some person with your car).
2. L8 4 DNR = late for dinner
3. EDUK8TR = educator
4. ATA2D = attitude
5. XQZ ME = excuse me

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IN THE NEXT ISSUE: (about March 2nd)
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What Mr. P was going to do.

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Copyright 2003 Kevin McCaughey & I.M. Poosheesty
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