The Google search engine has become so popular during the last few years that we often use it as a verb – to Google something.
In this episode, we’ll give you some ideas on how you can use Google services to improve your English.
Voice message from Marcela from Argentina
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_four_extra
Voice message from Ines
capear = According to Google Translate – to weather, to ride out (the storm), to dodge, to play with the cape(!), to deceive.
Manage, handle, deal with, cope – AIRC317
Voice message from Alejandro from Colombia living in Australia
(derived from – as a result from) worldwide (global) pandemic
He’s listened to more than 1000 episodes! (Present perfect simple) He’s been listening for a long time. (present perfect continuous)
Present perfect simple and continuous with special guest Bea – AIRC18
We are a couple of ‘craics’!
What do we think about Google translate?
Grammarly
wordreference.com and other online dictionaries
Google translate
Most (free) online dictionaries are better, e.g. wordreference.com, but not for short phrases and texts.
Google docs:
collaborating on a text.
Grammarly incorporates inside Google docs.
Voice to text on desktop and mobile (only with the Chrome browser): TOOLS – VOICE TYPING – CLICK MICROPHONE – Choose the language (English) and speak.
Text templates for CVs, application letters, proposals etc.
Google Sheets (spreadsheets like Microsoft excel) for vocabulary tables.
YouTube: Use CC – subtitles/closed captions and change playback speed (0.75, 0.50, 0.25)
Google Home smart speaker.
Google Keep for English notes, infographics and websites for English study. Use labels for easy search.
Google podcasts on Android phones (install it from the Play store).
Use Google image search for vocabulary (for example, search ‘safety pin’)
Use ‘suggested alternative’ if you’re not sure of spelling, grammar, collocation etc. (for example ‘I used go’ – Did you mean: I used to)
Free books to read: Google Scholar (academic papers): and Google Books
And if you are a teacher, Google Classroom which ties together Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides and Gmail and Google Calendar.
Privacy concerns: Do you worry about the privacy we trade for Google services?
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English. Have we forgotten any Google service that could be useful for studying English? Please let us know.
Send us a voice message. https://www.speakpipe.com/inglespodcast
Send us an email with a comment or question to [email protected] or [email protected].
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Welcome to our new Patreon supporters who have joined us this month:
Pedro Mut
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On next week’s episode: Can Hypnosis Improve your English?
The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’
Jazzy Sax, Guitar and Organ at the Club by Admiral Bob
(c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial
(3.0) license. http://ccmixter.org
2018 Martijn de Boer – Mixed Pleasures (NiGiD)
Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Verify at http://ccmixter.org/files/NiGiD/58105
Hello Reza and Craig,
First of all, I would like to say thank you for your job. Your podcasts are very useful to me since I am trying to past C1 level this year again because, last year I didn’t pass the speaking ability and as I am in the language school no ability was saved.
Regarding this podcast, I would like to add a dictionary where you can see short phrases and check if the meaning is proper to your writing. It is linguee. In some occasions, I use translators to check the grammar. For me, tradukka is pretty good.
But my advice for beginners is that they don’t have to think in their language but thinking in English and use structures that are common in this language.
I am going to send an audio message as soon as I have time because this lockdown is being very stressful to me because of my children and my teleworking.
I’m looking forward it is over and everything go back to the normality because I’m sick and tired of listening to speak about coronavirus and re-outbreaks.
Keep safe and continue doing podcasts.
Best regards,
Gemma
Thank you for your message, Gemma. I hope you and your family are well and that you are getting through the lockdown without losing your sanity!