Georgia Tech Language Institute

Learn this English idiom: “Once in a blue moon” 🌝🌚

This expression means “very rarely.” It refers to the rare appearance of a second full moon within a month, which only happens about once every 32 months.

Here’s an example sentence:
🌜 “My best friend lives in Alaska, so I only see him once in a blue moon.”

Try using this fun expression next time you’re describing something that rarely happens. 🌜

“I’m not hungry ______ I already ate lunch.”
a) or
b) and
c) since

Which conjunction is best to complete the sentence?

(C) “since” is a subordinating conjunction. In this sentence, it means “because.” Now, this sentence contains an adverb clause. 😎

Exciting news from Georgia Tech! GT has received a $20 million award from the National Science Foundation to expand research in AI and Machine Learning.

Today, Georgia Tech has received two $20 million awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand and advance the field of artificial intelligence technology. Tech will serve as a lead academic institution on a third $20 million grant, and together these awards will reinforce Tech's standing as one of America's premier universities in the field of machine learning.

Georgia Tech plans to hire an additional 100 researchers in AI over the next five years while our researchers will specifically develop new AI technologies to address in-home care for aging adults, energy and sustainability, and developing online adult education. -- https://c.gatech.edu/3rJe4Ra

Grammar quiz: “We know ______ motivated their decision.”
a) which
b) why
c) what
d) how

Dependent clauses are groups of words containing a subject + verb and a subordinating conjunction (which, that, who, where, if, etc.).

They are also called relative clauses, noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverb clauses. In this case, “what” functions as a pronoun, replacing a noun phrase. You could also write this sentence as, “We know (the thing that) motivated their decision.”

Questions? Leave them in the comments below! 👇

“Value learning above everything else. This will lead you to all the right choices.” -Robert Greene

Robert Greene is an American author who writes about power, strategy, and human nature. What’s your favorite Robert Greene quote?

💡 Grammar tip: Adjectives modify nouns, and adverbs modify either verbs or adjectives. Many adverbs end in -LY, but not all. For example, “fast” is both an adjective and an adverb.

Intensive English Program students, are you ready to begin classes tomorrow? Welcome to Summer Session 2021! 👋

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." - Aristotle

This is especially true with language learning. Language is about connecting, being able to communicate with others, and expanding out world.

Are you ready to start your English language journey? Visit our website and apply today!

Quick Quiz! "Yesterday, the park ____ by hundreds of people."

(A) visited (B) is visited (C) was visited⁣
⁣
⁣
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The correct answer is (C) was visited! We know the sentence is in passive voice because the object ("hundreds of people") is doing the action (visiting). You can also think of it this way - a park can't visit anyone, so it is not the subject! Passive voice uses this verb format: "to be" + past participle. Since the sentence is about something in the past (yesterday), we need to use the past tense form of "to be" - "was visited"!

If someone is in a difficult situation, you can say they are in a jam. Can you think of a time when you helped someone get out of a jam? Comment below 👇

English can be wonderfully weird. Find your next course at GTLI to help make sense of it all. esl.gatech.edu

Quick Quiz!
"Take an umbrella __ it rains.""⁣
(A) so that (B) in order to (C) in case⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The correct answer is (C) in case! "In case"" is used when there is a possibility that something will happen. The sentence means that you should take an umbrella because it may rain.

Keep learning with GTLI.
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For today’s Alumni Spotlight, we are featuring Maureen Stender! As part of the Fulbright Intercultural Communication Program, Maureen spent three weeks at the Georgia Tech Language Institute in 2017. She enjoyed the classes, leadership course, and participating in the Kindness Rock Project. She had a great time meeting friendly, motivated students and appreciated continued support from teachers after returning to Germany.

Maureen’s time at GTLI gave her a different on other cultures and inspired her to pursue a career working with people and companies from around the world. After finishing her bachelor’s degree in business administration and economic development, Maureen started her dream job at Bavaria Invest where she works with international investors. During her interview, Maureen leveraged her experiences in Atlanta to show her interest in international business.

Learn more about your options with GTLI.
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Did you know that there are different types of pronouns? Subjective pronouns can replace the subject of a sentence. For example, instead of saying "George received an offer," you can say "he received an offer."

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject is also the object of the action. For example, you can say "she taught herself." In this sentence, "she" is the subject doing the teaching, but she is also the object receiving the teaching."

Keep learning: esl.gatech.edu

This position seems __ suitable for me.

- even / very / much

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Weird English Wednesday

A 'nest egg' can be used to refer to money saved for a future purpose.

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Quick Quiz: “It ___ be hot tomorrow.”
(A) willn’t (B) won’t

The correct answer is B! The contraction of “will not” is “won’t.”

This is because Old English used two forms of “willan” (the old word for “will”). “Wi-“ was the present form and “wold-“ was the past form.

After centuries of different spellings, “wonnot” became the common negative form of the verb, so now “will not” is shortened to “won’t.”

Keep learning with GTLI: esl.gatech.edu

Proficient writing represents a remarkable asset for all professions. Job recruiters agree that effective writing is a top essential skill for winning a new position. In this class, you will learn to write short forms of business communication with concise style and clear expression. You will learn the formal elements and U.S. cultural conventions for several standard written formats, such as emails, team-based instant messaging, and memos. Individualized feedback will be given. You will also receive guided practice in English grammar and professional style. Throughout this class, you will enhance other essential professional skills including collaboration and self-assessment.

This course is for professionals from any discipline whose work demands confidence and precision in short, written communication forms. This course is designed for non-native speakers of English at intermediate to advanced levels.

Join live virtual courses next month when you apply before April 6!

https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/english-professional-writing-1-emails-e-chats-memos-and-other-digital-communication -details