MEDICAL VOCABULARY: PHYSICAL COMPLAINTS

Learning these medical vocabulary will help you when taking the CAE and CPE exams. Knowing this vocabulary will prove useful when dealing with the Reading and Use of English Papers.

A SLIPPED DISC

A SPLITTING HEADACHE

Example: Are you going to the party? 

No, sorry. I´ve got a splitting headache. 

I feel like going to bed early tonight.

A SPRAINED ANKLE
Example: He won´t be in the office until next week. He´s on medical leave because of a sprained ankle.










A TORN LIGAMENT

EYE STRAIN

Example: If the problem is eye strain, I think you should turn off the computer and take a good rest. You should go to see the doctor tomorrow.

TENNIS ELBOW

WRITER'S CRAMP

Example: Many people who work at a computer develop writer´s cramp, which causes pain in the fingers, wrist and forearm.

Surf our web for more vocabulary practice. We recommend "Idioms from A to Z". 

CAE/CPE Vocabulary practice

You need to improve your English to be ready to take the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and Certificate in Proficiency in English (CPE) University of Cambridge exams. 

Try doing these Idioms and Vocabulary exercises and then visit our pages to check your answers. Very good luck in successfully passing these English exams. 

VOCABULARY: 5 IDIOMS TO DO WITH LOVE

First of all I want to apologise for not having posted anything in a while. I´m accommodating my best friend who lives in Dusseldorf -Germany while he is on holidays here in Lima, and that has kept me quite busy and apart from blogging. 

Todays´ post is inspired in a musical we went to see last night: "Sweet Charity". Have you seen it? Are love stories your cup of tea? I hope idioms are at least!

5 IDIOMS TO DO WITH LOVE

1 To find your better half

2 A match made in heaven

3 To be head over heels

4 To tie the knot 

5 To be the apple of someone´s eye

ADVISE OR ADVICE?

In British English advise (with "s") is the verb; and advice (with "c") is the noun. Let´s check some examples:

Advise (verb)

- I advise you not to go to Peru in this time of the year. It´s better to go in January.

- She advised me to take the FCE exam in June.

Advice (noun/uncountable)

- Listen to my advice and go to Peru in January when it´s sunny.

- Her advice was to take the FCE exam in June.

.....

*Note: Because advice is uncountable, it´s not possible to say advices. 

Incorrect: She gave me advices.
Correct: She gave me some advice. 

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES VOCABULARY

One of the books you are advised to read before taking the CPE exam is Sue Monk Kidd's "The secret life of bees". The book is full of very useful vocabulary. This comes from chapter 1 of the book.

BRISTLE ROLLERS

PEACH ORCHARD (an area of land devoted to the cultivation of peaches)

DUCKTAIL (hairstyle/ wear your hair in a ducktail)

SOCK HOP (a dance/ an event in which teenagers gathered in the school to dance in the USA in the 1950s)

KNEEL ON GRITS (  a very cruel form of punishment )

USING TWO-PART PHRASES IN WRITINGS

Using two-part phrases will help you enhance your writing for an international exam such as CAE, CPE or IELTS.

Try using some of these two-part phrases the next time you write a letter/ essay/ article/ story...

LEAPS AND BOUNDS
                                                         PROS AND CONS
ROUGH AND READY
                                                        UPS AND DOWNS
THROUGH AND THROUGH
                                                        GIVE AND TAKE


Examples

Any skill such as playing the violin improves in leaps and bounds if you practise enough. (article)

Even though our relationship had its ups and downs, I was sure that ours was a match made in heaven. (story)

It would be infinitely preferable to take into consideration the pros and cons of building a new factory before making a final decision. (formal letter)


...............
Students´samples:

I’m sick and tired of having to queue every time I go to the bank.

There are pros and cons to travelling abroad alone.

I´m learning to speak English in leaps and bounds.

I´m an Italian food fan through and through.

I don´t like romantic films. They go on and on.

CPE PHRASAL VERBS

WANT TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS? CLICK HERE

SADDLE SOMEBODY WITH SOMETHING

This week´s phrasal verb is " saddle with."

 

Definition: To make someone have a job or problem that is difficult or boring and that they do not want.

 

Examples:

 

I´ve been saddled with organising the whole party.

 

Many farms were saddled with debts.

 

I´ve been saddled with the job of writing a report of the college´s olympic games.

CPE VOCABULARY IN PICTURES

A HEAP OF STRAW

                              


MOULDY BREAD

GRIN LIKE A CHESHIRE CAT

To be grinning like a cheshire cat means to be incredibly happy.

The Cheshire Cat is a fictional cat popularised by Lewis Carroll in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and known for its distinctive mischievous grin.

Example: "She fancied him. It was as clear as water to us. As he talked to her she couldn´t help grinning like a cheshire cat."

CPE VOCABULARY FLOWERS

CAMOMILE                                                       DANDELION




SUNFLOWER

                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                          VIOLET


WATER LILY

Visit the FACEBOOK PAGE for more Vocabulary / Collocations / Idioms / and  Phrasal verbs.

CPE VOCABULARY IN PICTURES

 Let´s put your vocabulary to the test. Can you name these? Give it a try.

Check your answers in our Pictionary Page.

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CAE/ CPE Using synonyms

Using synonyms is a good way to improve your speaking and writing. In the CAE and CPE exams try to use synonyms when writing to avoid repetition, show off your high level of English and make a good impression on the examiner. 

Writing exercise.

Rewrite the following, using synonyms for nice: 

Yesterday was very nice. I had a nice meal at a nice restaurant with some very nice people.

I had a whale of a time yesterday. I had a delicious meal in a posh/5-star restaurant with some enchanting/charming people.

*Adapted from "Speak Out" by Frances Eales and Steve Oakes.

Are you ready for CAE/ CPE? Try this "Phrasal verbs with DO quiz" to find out !

What do these phrasal verbs mean?


1. Do sb in.
Example "The mugger threatened to do me in if I didn´t give him my wallet."

A. Rob
B. Kill
C. Hit

2. Do sth up.
Example "We are doing up an old house we bought in the outskirts of town".

A. Repair
B. Sell
C. Rent

3. Do with sth.
Example "Are you busy? I could do with some help here, if you are free".

A.Relate
B. Demand
C. Need

Answers


1. B

2. A

3. C

Reading and Mind-mapping to learn new vocabulary (LABCI 2013- presentation)

How to teach vocabulary using mind maps

The whole presentation at http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=266646432&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

These are some power point shots of what was my presentation at LABCI 2013. Basically I was looking for ways to help my students improve their writing so I came up with the idea of using mind-maps. The idea soon became a very serious project which I presented at Cayetano University (Faculty of Education) and later at the Latin American British Culture Institutions Congress in Lima this year.