The best word for this context ...

This year I have students who have so many difficulties in English that when I tell them to write a composition in English, they tend to write it in Portuguese and only then translate it into English. They like using the “Google Translator” to perform this task.

Although the “Google Translator” can be a help, they cannot trust it entirely because the same word can have many different meanings depending on the context it is used. It is a fact that the “Google Translator” has been improving much, but you need to check your work before you deliver it to be evaluated.

In the web, I have found excellent sites where words/ expressions are used in different contexts, so it could be a great help when you are unsure about the best word to use.

Here are some examples:

http://mymemory.translated.net/

http://www.linguee.pt/

http://pt.bab.la/dicionario/portugues-ingles/

http://www.infopedia.pt/portugues-ingles/

Grammar exercises - 7th grade

Hello!

Here are some exercises for my younger students (7th grade) and for anyone else who wants to try them ...

Past simple of the verb to be 

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises?03

http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-games/past-simple-verb-be

Past simple (to be, regular and irregular verbs)   

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past/exercises

 http://www.language-worksheets.com/past-simple-elementary.html

Comparatives (superiority)

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5979

Modal verbs

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-87468.php

Improve your grammar!

My students ( 10th grade- professional courses) are going to have a test in two days, so they have been asking me to tell them about online exercises so that they can study at home. Here is a possible list.
Try these and more ( the possiblities are endless)

Grammar

Past simple
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-simple-past.php

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-past

Present perfect
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_present_perfect.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple

Connectors (elementary)
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3937

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=232

Comparatives
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2065

Superlatives
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-29600.php

Comparatives versus superlatives

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-grammar-comparatives-superlatives.php

Reading

 Read about student exchange programs

http://exchangestudentworld.com/student/top-5-reasons-to-become-an-exchange-student/

Hello! Again ..

Sorry for not posting for a long time, but this school year I am been doing a different type of work. I have been trying to evolve and adapt.

I have two large groups of students, in a total of 140 students. On the one hand, I have a group of students who are much younger than the usual ( 7^th grade students) and consequently I had to adapt my teaching methods. On the other hand, I have a group of older students who are attending professional courses and whose curriculum is different from my  previous students. Many of these students have always had problems with English and consequently feel demotivated. I have been trying to motivate them and show them they can succeed if they really try. It hasn't been easy ...

However, I have been posting in my school’s blog together with another teacher of English.