ACET: Idiom of the Day!!
Today’s idiom is Barking up the Wrong Tree So today we are continuing with our idioms with a dog theme! 🙂 This idiom means to be wrong in your thoughts or actions about something or someone. The meaning of this idiom comes from many years ago when hunters would go hunting with their dogs. The […]
ACET: Idiom of the Day!!
Today’s idiom is Let Sleeping Dogs Lie The meaning of this idiom is to leave a situation as it is so as not to cause problems. The history of this idiom can date back to 1374 when Geoffray Chaucer said “It is nought good a sleeping hound wake”. However, the Celtic Druids stated before […]
My Experience in Cork...
Isabel Maria Afonso Guizado, an ACET student recounts her experience in Cork…. “When I arrived in Cork at first I was nervous because I didn’t know anybody in this unfamiliar city. My first day was already fine because my Irish family introduced me to the city and that was very kind of them. The next […]
ACET: Word of the Day!!
Skulduggery noun: skull-DUG-uh-ree Definition: underhanded or unscrupulous behaviour: also: a devious device or trick Examples There was a whiff of skulduggery surrounding the real-estate deal, since the building managed to pass inspection even though everyone knew it wasn’t up to code. “Some House Democrats … cast a […]
ACET: Idiom of the Day!!
Today’s idiom is Forty Winks This expression means to take a very short nap, usually during the day. As you know, it takes less than a second to wink so you can imagine that forty winks is truly a short rest. You can put this idiom in a sentence like the following: 1. Sarah […]
ACET: Idiom of the Day!!
Today’s idiom is As Keen as Mustard As Keen as Mustard means that one is extremely enthusiastic in general or about something in particular. Example sentences: 1. We asked Adam to sing at the concernt because he was as keen as mustard. 2. Sandy got the job in the end because she was kind, […]
ACET: Idiom of the Day!!
This week’s idiom is Cast Your Eye Over It Cast your eye over the picture on this page – what is it? It is an Irish breakfast. Cast your eye over it means to look at it quickly or to glance at it, without paying attention to the details. You could say take a quick […]
ACET: Idiom of the Day!!
Today’s idiom is SOUR GRAPES! Sour Grapes means to take on a negative attitude because you cannot have what you want. This expression comes from one of Aesop’s fables ‘The Fox and the Grapes’. The fable speaks about a very hungry fox who tried to reach a bunch of grapes hanging from a vine. He […]
ACET: Idiom of the day!!
Today’s idiom is Spoilt for Choice! What will I watch on TV tonight? I could watch a film, a police drama, a documentary, a comedy or soap opera. I can’t decide – there are some many channels for me to choose from. In fact, I am spoilt for choice. The idiom ‘to be spoilt for […]
ACET: Proverb - The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE This proverb describes the feeling when sometimes we would be happier in a different set of circumstances. This commonly quoted phrase describes the tendency to long for things that we do not have. Example: ‘If we lived in Australia, we could have a barbeque in the […]
ACET: Idiom of the week
This week’s idiom is You could cut the air with a knife! Look at this picture of a chess championship and imagine the atmosphere there. Are the people relaxed and are they laughing and chatting? No, they aren’t. They are tense and nervous and the air is thick with the tension and stress. To […]
ACET: Different ways to say Goodbye in English
We have a number of ways to say ‘goodbye’, some are informal and others are more formal. Let’s take a look at some of them. Bye – is the standard way to say goodbye. You can use it with friends and family as well as in work situations. Goodbye – is quite formal and we […]
ACET Idiom of the Day!!
Today the Idiom is As Scarce as Hens’ Teeth! Do hens have teeth? I don’t think so!! Like so many English idioms this conjures up a strange image. This idiom is used to express that something is very rare and hard to find. Example sentence – I looked in every shop to buy a red […]
ACET: Keep your English up to date!!
English is an evolving language and new words and expressions are often added and the meaning of existing words can change. Let’s take a look at some new words and the new use of some existing words. ‘Floordrobe’ – where do you keep your clothes? In a wardrobe or a chest of […]
ACET: Tips for Exams!
Here at ACET we prepare students for a variety of English Exams – KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL etc. so to help all our students studying for their exams we have asked some of the academic team for their top exam tips! • Make sure you fully understand what the course […]
ACET: Make the most of your Dictionary!!
A good dictionary is invaluable when learning English. A monolingual dictionary is preferable and provides a lot more than the meaning of words. With a good dictionary you can: • check the spelling of a word (k-n-e-e) • check the plural of a noun or past tense of a verb (go – went – […]
ACET: Outdoor Chill spots in Cork City
Cork has been experiencing some beautiful sunshine and balmy temperatures throughout the past week. To keep our students informed of some of the hidden gems across the city, we have compiled a short list of places that are ideal for chilling out on our beautiful sunny days lately. 1. Fitzgerald’s Park […]
ACET: Missing everyday life of Cork City
After spending time apart social distancing, and witnessing the devastation caused by the coronavirus crisis, many may just miss simple social interactions and all the things we had going on in our lives Whether it’s going for a cup of coffee, taking a stroll and sparking up conversations with a friendly dog owner or enjoying […]
ACET: What is your learning style?
In the classroom it is clear that not all students learn in the same way. It is important for both the teacher and the student to be aware of their own learning style as this effects their behaviour in class and their response to different activities and material in class. The three most common learning […]
ACET Idiom of the day!!
PLAYING WITH FIRE Playing with fire is used to refer to something that is dangerous or risky that could lead to you being harmed. So, if you run across the street when there is traffic coming, you are playing with fire!
ACET Idiom of the day!!
“WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD” Worth its weight in gold can be said when someone wants to express gratitude to somebody else for helping them out in a situation. For example, if we were preparing for a big party 🙂 and a friend helps us to get everything prepared, we could say to our […]
Our CEO, Odile Migieu listed in the Top Leaders to Watch 2020 by Silicon Review
Active Centre of English Training: Cork’s First and now its Leading English Language School The Silicon Review: “We encourage our teachers to investigate teaching and learning so as to improve their own and their students’ learning.” With China’s growing economic might, is Mandarin becoming the preferred language of business? Not anytime soon, says a […]
Learn Idioms at ACET
As cool as a cucumber, means to be calm and in control of your emotions. Examples: • Jane is good in a crisis as she stays as cool as a cucumber. • The politician stayed as cool as a cucumber during the tough interview. It probably originates from the fact that cucumbers are quite […]
ACET: Improve your Listening Skills
In class a few weeks ago, a student said that spoken English is ‘too fast’ for him to understand. It was important to let him know that he was not alone as listening comprehension is considered to be the most difficult skills to develop. At ACET we acknowledge that although […]
NO Double Trouble at ACET!
Can two wrongs ever make a right?? We hear songs titles, such as – ‘Ain’t no sunshine when you’re gone’ or ‘Can’t get no satisfaction’. This is called a Double Negative – using no or not when you should use any. The two negatives cancel each other out and give a positive meaning. It […]
ACET: Verbs and Prepositions
Here we have a useful list of verbs with prepositions. Remember it is important to learn which preposition is commonly collocated with the verbs
Learning English Dos and Don'ts by ACET !
The aim of our blog is to counter the dos and don’ts of learning English. We will also make a recommendation to everybody who wants to improve efficiently the language of Shakespeare. Dos The most important thing is to allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them. the next piece of advice is […]
ACET's English Language Trivia!!
Have you ever heard the phrase, “the black sheep of the family” and wondered what it meant? Well the phrase refers to somebody who is regarded as a little “different” ( 🙂 ) and stand out from the rest of their family, whether it is because they look different, act differently or have very different […]
A Thought from Odile
I frequently hear our past clients saying how much their stay in Ireland and ACET has changed their life. Attending a course in ACET is much more than improving your English – it is an experience! The Experience of living in a different country. The Experience of having to speak English all the […]
At ACET Present is Perfect
The Present Prefect, although it is easy to form, can be the most difficult for students to know when to use. Is it a past or a present tense? Take a look at the construction have/has + past participle. Have/has refers to the present. We use the Present Perfect when we look at when […]
ACET’s Top Tips for Better Spelling
Don’t be embarrassed by your spelling Let’s take a few minutes to think about ways to deal with the challenges of English spelling. Here at ACET, we were discussing tips to help with spelling issues. One teacher remembered being at school and having difficulty with the word address (one ‘d’ or two? one ‘s‘ or […]
ACET GUIDE TO THE APOSTROPHE
While stuck in a traffic jam the other day I passed the time by reading some of the advertisements around me. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a van, advertising ‘Irelands best bread’. Missing and misplaced apostrophes may not bother everyone, but for an ELT teacher, they are a real heartbreaker. A nice […]
Easter in Ireland
Easter in Ireland in the Past In Ireland preparation for Easter usually begins on the first day of Lent, forty days before Easter Sunday. From the first day of Lent many Irish people stop eating meat or quit something they enjoy such as favourite food, alcohol, cigarettes and even television. Typical Easter Sunday Many family […]
A Traditional Patrick's Day Celebration
With all the St. Patrick’s Day parades cancelled due to COVID 19, let’s take a few minutes to reflect on simpler times in the past and how St Patrick’s Day was originally celebrated. […]
Valentine's Day
Who was Saint Valentine? There might have been two or three different Saint Valentines, but the most likely one was Saint Valentine who defied Emperor Claudius II. At the time, Claudius had banned marriage because he thought it distracted young soldiers from their duty. Valentine felt differently and he illegally married couples until he […]
Christmas Traditions in Ireland
The Gaelic greeting for Merry Christmas is’ Nollaig Shona Duit,. which is pronounced as ‘null-ig hun-a dit’. THE CANDLE IN THE WINDOW The lit candle in the window of a house on Christmas eve is a symbol to welcome to Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter. In the past, the […]
Halloween
Did you know that Halloween originates in Celtic Ireland? The origins of Halloween are based on the festival of Samhain in Ireland’s Celtic past. It marked the end of the time when the crops had been gathered and placed in storage for the long winter ahead. But it was also the time when the […]
ACET: New Words added to Oxford English Dictionary
English is an ever-growing language, with new words added every year. Over the recent years we have seen blog, crowdfunding, twerk and Brexit added to the dictionary. Who invents these words and makes them catch on? A selection of new words has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). Some of the slang words […]
ACET: Apps to Consolidate your Learning
Using Apps to Consolidate your Learning Without a doubt, the best way to learn and improve your English is to study at a quality language school such as ACET. However, once you have left the school you need to think about how to consolidate your learning and continue improving. Benefits • Using an app […]
Weather in Ireland
Here in Ireland, we love to talk about the weather. It is a good way to break the ice. We talk about the weather on the phone and in person. Friends and family chat about it before discussing what’s going on and what’s new. At work we talk about the weather at the start […]
Business All-Star
Delighted to receive Business All-Star Accreditation Our team has been very busy over the last 8 weeks working with the All-Ireland Business Foundation to achieve our Business All-Star Accreditation Certificate. This accreditation is an outstanding achievement and recognises the hard work and dedication of our team in providing a best in class service to all […]
The Magic of Irish Pubs
The magic of Irish pubs Let’s start from the beginning: If you go to Ireland, you should go to an Irish pub! It’s part of their tradition and it could become an interesting, different and magnificent experience. What do I mean by saying this? It’s simple. When you enter an Irish Pub, the cosy, […]
Creative Writing by Delia Bazzurri
This is not a fairy tale like the others ….. Everything started as a normal visit but unexpectedly all became magical, at times fabulous and at times terrifying. She was walking in the park, nothing suggested that soon everything would change or that an enchanted portal (or, better, a sort of portal) would appear […]
Creative Writing by Delia Bazzurri
Like a ray of sunshine It was a morning like every other one, the roads swarmed with people and the cars stood still at the traffic light. The sky was tinged with grey and a few drops began to fall lightly wetting the soil. It had been raining for weeks now, which was actually quite […]
CELTA at ACET
ACET is now accepting applications for CELTA course commencing in September 2016. This Certificate in Language Teaching course is accredited by Cambridge University and recognised worldwide. Contact Laura on academic@acetireland.ie for further details.
Cambridge Testing Centre Success
Our exam centre was recently highly commended by Cambridge English for our professionalism in conducting examinations.
St. Patrick’s Day in Cork!
ACET student Andrea Sebé Fernández gives an account of St. Patrick’s festivities that took place recently in the city. “On 17th March came the long awaited day for everyone. In the morning everybody was in the parade, in Saint Patrick Street. The streets were packed with thousands of people all so excited. Families, locals and tourists like […]
ACET Students Perform Christmas Production
ACET students performed a production of ‘Twas the Night before Christmas in Cork …like’ in the school on Thursday, December 3rd. The enthusiastic group of students had been rehearsing and preparing the production for a number of weeks in the lead up to the Christmas season. The mini drama was a modern take of the […]
Christmas Jumper Fridays!
THIS DECEMBER AT ACET WE PLAN TO GET REALLY FESTIVE IN PREPARATION FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. We encourage all students and staff to wear their most ridiculous and glittery festive woollies to school on Fridays 4th, 11th and 18th of December.
ACET Students Prepare for Upcoming Christmas Production
ACET students are busy preparing for an upcoming Christmas production due to take place in the school prior to the holiday break . The first meeting took place at break time on Wednesday, and those in attendance were buzzing with enthusiasm and wonderful ideas. With such a great number of students involved, we have an […]
Samhain – Halloween in Cork
Samhain is an ancient Gaelic festival that prehistorically marked the end of the harvest season. It took place annually around sunset on October 31st. Modern day Halloween celebrations throughout the world have deviated from ancient Samhain celebrations but in Ireland we have maintained a strong tradition of continuing to mark this ancient pagan ritual through […]
Welcome to the Gourmet Capital of Ireland – CORK!
Welcome to the Gourmet Capital of Ireland – CORK! Beatrice De Caro, our wonderful intern recently discovered for herself why Cork is indeed the Gourmet Capital of Ireland. Beatrice has reviewed some of her favourite dining spots close by the school. Why not check them out for yourselves when you get to Cork! “Of […]
Team ACET Participate in Cork Women’s Mini Marathon
Team ACET Participate in Cork Women’s Mini Marathon On Sunday 27th of September, a team from ACET joined over 12,000 participants in the Cork Women’s Mini Marathon. Enjoying the warm sunshine of an Indian summer, we embarked on the 4 mile course among a sea of colour. Local charities were the beneficiaries of the funds raised in the […]
ACET goes running this Sunday.
Keep an eye out for Team ACET this Sunday as Odile, Joelle, Maeve and Joanna take part in the Cork Women’s Mini Marathon. If you see them along the route, be sure to give a cheer!
Christmas Traditions from Across the world
We spoke with ACET students to hear how they celebrate the Christmas season at home. Name: Vera Vykoukalova Nationality: Czech “For Christmas we often have potato salad and carp. The older generation of women bake a number of small cakes all different shapes and flavours. Sometimes they have as many as 20 – 25! They […]
