Inglês no Brasil: estamos na contramão da globalização?

A BIRD GEI | Consultoria e Gestão de Idiomas tem divulgado anualmente desde 2002 a pesquisa de produtividade e índice de proficiência em inglês no Brasil realizada com funcionários inscritos em cursos patrocinados integralmente ou co-patrocinados por empresas. As pesquisas servem como benchmarking do aprendizado  e permitem que nossos stakeholders façam ajustes e direcionem seus investimentos… Read More

English Language Tests

Different prices, graduation systems, validity of test … It may be difficult sometimes to understand the differences between all the English language tests available out there. This infographic will help you have a better idea of which test would suit your profile the best by comparing them in 10 points. Source: www.topformation.fr

An Ode to English Plurals

An ode to English Plurals Attibuted to Eugenie A. Nidia We’ll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes, But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, Yet the plural of moose should never be meese. You may find a lone mouse or… Read More

Language Proficiency Tests: TOEFL – IELTS – TOEIC – CAMBRIDGE

Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL, is a standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers wishing to enroll in U.S. universities. The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS. TOEFL is a trademark of ETS (Educational… Read More

A Western style of speech perception: hearing with your eyes

Which parts of a person’s face do you look at when you listen them speak? Lip movements affect the perception of voice information from the ears when listening to someone speak, but native Japanese speakers are mostly unaffected by that part of the face. Recent research from Japan has revealed a clear difference in the… Read More

Sneaked or Snuck?

Sneak (snik) v. sneak n., adj. v.i. 1. to go in a stealthy or furtive manner; slink; skulk. 2. to act in a furtive or underhand way. v.t. 3. to move, put, pass, etc., in a stealthy or furtive manner: He sneaked the gun into his pocket. 4. to do, take, or have hurriedly or surreptitiously:… Read More

Collocation, collocation, collocation (Brazilian learners)

What is a collocation? A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound “right” to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound “wrong”. Look at these examples: Natural English… Unnatural English… the fast train fast… Read More