This column is part of a series on websites that are useful for English language learning.

Activities for ESL Students

    Includes various types of tests, exercises and puzzles designed to help people studying English as a second language（ESL）.The activities include grammar, vocabulary and idiom tests at easy, medium and difficult levels. The specially designed Chinese-English vocabulary tests can help Chinese memorize English words.

http://a4esl. org/

Interesting Things for ESL Students

    Contains a comprehensive list of audio clips（听力剪辑）from the Special English programs of Voice of America（VOA）.The list covers news of all kinds on VOA. The listening and vocabulary exercises and the word list designed with the clips will help English learners improve listening ability and increase vocabulary.

http://www.manythings.org/voa/

World-English

    This site provides a list of radio or TV channels offering English news clips. It includes the BBC radio program clips from England, CNN and ABC news clips from the US, and other news clips from other English-speaking countries. Click on the links and you will be taken to channels where you can listen to clips. This is a good way to practice listening.

http://www.world-english.org/listening.html

Listen to English

    Offers a large number of materials for English learners to practice listening. The materials include business English, English literature, history, movies, and politics. Students can improve their English while enjoying the beauty of the English of literature, songs, movies, and news in different countries.

http://eleaston.corn/listen, html

    Submitting Assignment Online

    In order to upload an assignment to the system properly, you must save the assignment using one of the following applications: Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, or Microsoft Excel.

    After you complete an assignment, it is important to save your work. This ensures that assignment being uploaded to the system is the most updated version. Your word processing program may attempt to save the assignment to a default folder on your computer. We recommend creating a new folder, named after your course, in a location that is easy to remember, such as “My Documents.”

    File Name Requirements

Select a file name for the assignment that is easy to remember. The file name must NOT contain spaces. Any spaces used in the file name will prevent the file from uploading to the system. File names using the extensions .rtf, .html, .zip, .jpg, or .exe are NOT allowed.

    Assignment Upload Procedure

    Make sure you save the assignment using one of the applications previously identified and ensure that it meets the file name requirements described above. When the file is ready to upload, follow these steps:

    1). Sign in the system

    2). Enter your address information and click the CONTINUE button. You will be routed to the “Directions” screen.

    3). Review the directions and click the CONTINUE button. You will be routed to the “Special Assignment Upload” screen.

    4). Click the BROWSE button. The “Choose File” window pops up.

    5). Find the location on your computer where you saved your assignment, and select the file.

    After you have selected the file, click the UPLOAD button to upload your assignment to the system.

    Assignment Submission Dates

    Assignments must be submitted by midnight on the specified due date. Submit your assignment on time so that it reaches the system on or before the due date. No late assignment will be accepted or marked. Assignments delivered after the due date will not be assessed and will be failed. Please manage your time carefully as family and work demands will not be accepted as excuses for late or non-submissions. Tutors and administrator do not have the authority to grant extensions.

    Spend more time on yourself by reading these great books

    ⒈Thirteen Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do

    By Amy Morin

    12 min

    106, 6K reads on Blinkist

    Audio available

    You can't escape misfortune in life. But you can change how you respond to it. Do you struggle to get over your failures? Or awell on things out of your control? Getting over these obstacles can have a profound influence on your everybody life. Morin shares how her most successful therapy patients overcame these difficulties.

    ⒉How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

    By Dale Carnergie

    9 min

    217, 5K reads on Blinkist

    Audio available

    How would you feel if someone told you on Sunday evening that, come Monday morning, you would be thrown into a torture chamber? Would you worry? Probably. But there would be a way to deal with those worries. By defining the source of your stress, you can get over it once and for all. Carnegie came up with a timeless formula that helps you tackle any overthinking situation.

    ⒊How Will You Measure Your Life?

    By Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon 13 min

    127, 1K reads on Blinkist

    Audio available

    What do you think would make you happier at work? Perhaps a little more pay might be nice, or maybe some more admiration from fellow colleagues. Are you making the right trade-offs in life? While career achievements can be satisfying, neglecting your family and friends can be detrimental in the long-run – in ways you can't even imagine.

    ⒋Emotional Intelligence

    By Daniel Goleman 16 min

    285, 8K reads on Blinkist

    Audio available

    Do our emotions hold us back? Would we do better if our emotions were removed and we became unfeeling, logical creatures? Did you know if your pulse rate rises above 100 bpm, you're deemed too emotional to think rationally?

    You probably let feelings cloud your judgment more often than you know. Goleman explains how you can avoid letting your emotions rule you and make better decisions in life.

    It seems that technology could be changing the places where we live. A project conducted by Johann Siau, a senior lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Engineering and Technology, has built on the university's InterHome project aimed to create a home that supervises people living at home who are weak or elderly.

    “We've developed a wristband type of device（装罝）,” said Johann Siau, “which allows us to monitor the condition of an elderly person, or whoever is wearing the device. It allows us to collect data of a person to see if the person has fallen or is away from where they are supposed to be. It connects an elderly person with an assisted living type of device with the InterHome.” The assisted living project is part of the university's wider InterHome project, which is the development of a smart house. The house stores the usage patterns of the person living there and can adapt to make it use as little energy as possible. Connecting the two together and building the service element（元素）allow us to introduce the assisted living idea to care for the elderly. It's very important that these technologies are there to help and support rather than to replace any of the existing services.

    The InterHome is not just a prototype（样品）or a vehicle for research. It's a study tool to help students from different scientific backgrounds learn about and develop technology. The InterHome combines the latest broadband technology, mobile data and communication. Researchers and students make sure that all the technology works together. Students get experience by developing new hardware and software themselves. It requires a variety of skills from students—electronic engineers, computer students, design students and so on. “The present plan we are working on is a smart home project in Watford with some commercial companies, ” said Johann Siau. “We are looking at how a smarter home can provide extra value services.”

    WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO?

    Is it amazing that the WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO makes it fun for young children to save? With the help of Standard Bank's Kidz APP and the Big Five animal friends, teaching your children about managing their cash has never been more fun. Let the WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO show your little ones what it means to earn and save money as well as share in the enjoyment of spending their well－earned cash.

    Elephant

    As your children use the mobile app to complete various actions—achieving savings goals, completing missions and achieving wishes—here various medals will be rewarded.

    Earned medals are displayed in the elephant habitat as well as locked medals still to be achieved.

    Leopard

    Reward your kids with pocket money for completing ‘missions': household chores, achievements, etc.

    You can create a mission for your child, or your child can request a new mission. Once created, it must be accepted. The mission needs to be completed by your child and approved by you before you can pay him or her.

    Lion

    Help your children create and fulfil wishes. Wish cards and their savings progress can be tracked from your banking app.

    Once their savings goal is reached, lion will inform you of their achievement.

    Buffalo

    Kidz can request to withdraw cash or purchase airtime and data using their savings.

    Rhino

    Rhino shows your child's latest account balance and transactions.

    Download the Standard Bank's Kidz APP from Apple App Store on the phone. Use the comment section to interact with other Standard Bank customers and bank consultants.

    Great places where you can travel for the coming 2020 New Year's Eve you'll never forget:

    Sydney

    Sydney, Australia, is the first major international city to greet the New Year at midnight. The major fireworks display takes place at Sydney Harbour with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge providing a spectacular (壮观的) backdrop.

    Taipei, Taiwan

    New Year^'s Eve in Taipei, the capital city of the island of Taiwan, is a visual spectacle. The city's tallest building, Taipei 101, is the launching pad for an unforgettable fireworks show. Prime spots to take in the event include National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Xinyi Commercial District, which gets quite crowded.

    Cape Town

    Cape Town is one of the most beautifully situated cities in Africa and the world. New Year's Eve fireworks make it all the more spectacular. If you're looking for a place with delicious food and a view of the festivities, Baia Seafood Restaurant is a good choice. If you're in the mood for a party, Cape Point Vineyards is one of many places to consider.

    Las Vegas

    Vegas is lit up year-round, but it goes all out for New Year's Eve. The street is closed off to vehicles, and pedestrians take over for an unforgettable festival. At midnight, various casinos (赌场) launch an impressive fireworks off the roofs of their buildings.

    For further information, you can click on here, the website https: //edition. cnn. com/travel/