Tips to help you with “-ed” endings.
Did you know that the way you write “walked” is probably not the way you say it? Pronunciation is an essential part of learning a foreign language, and sometimes communication can break down because of simple and easy to avoid mistakes. Pronouncing “-ed” at the end of verbs in English can be challenging, because there are THREE ways of saying it. Discover more about them below.
This lesson is for students learning English at Pre-Intermediate level or for people who have a general interest in phonemic sounds.
ED endings appear at the end of regular verbs in the past tensee.g. wanted, helped, lived.
Sometimes in adjectives ending in ED, such as tired, embarrassed, relaxed, and also in some Past Participles. These ED ending words can cause some problems for non-native speakers because there are three possible ways of pronouncing them: / ɪd /, / t / or / d /
Don’t worry there are a few rules that can help you remember which pronunciation we need for each word, but first we need to recognise our voiced and voiceless consonants.
Put your finger on your throat and pronounce the letter L.
Now do the same thing but pronounce the P.
Notice the difference? The ‘L’ sound causes a vibration in your throat but the ‘P’ sound doesn’t. If it makes a vibration then it is a voiced sound (consonant) if it doesn’t, then it is a voiceless sound (consonant). Try this with the other letters and you will “feel” the difference between a voiced and a voiceless consonant (or sound).
Now we know the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds we can look at the following rules for the correct pronunciation of ED in English:
| The /ɪd/ sound | The /t/ sound | The /d/ sound |
| If the last letter of the word is a ‘d’ or ‘t’, the ED pronunciation is an /ɪd/ sound
It rhymes with kidand bid.
Wanted is pronounced as “want-id”, More examples.. waited (“wait-id”) needed (“need-id”) folded (“fold-id”) |
If the last consonant of the word is voiceless ‘k’ ‘s’ ‘p’ then the ED pronunciation is as a T.
Be careful not to create an extra syllable or “id” sound.
talked (sounds like “talkt”) parked (“parkt”) helped (“helpt”) |
If the last letter of the word ends in a voicedsound (consonant) ‘m’ ‘l’ ‘n’, then the ED is pronounced like a D
(without creating another syllable) played (sounds like “playd”) closed (the S sounds like a vibrating Z so the word would sound like “clozd”) opened (“opend”) lived (“livd”) |
Now you’ve learnt the THREE ways of pronouncing “-ed” in English, well done! Make sure to check out our video for a more detailed look, given by our CELTA-qualified EFL teacher.
Free Online English Lesson – Wishes, Dreams, Desires & Ambitions
Our dreams and ambitions follow us everywhere. It’s so important to be able to talk about them and to express ourselves in English. In conversations and other situations where you need to give reliable, fluent answers in English, these functional-language phrases will help you to keep the words flowing in a natural way.
Learn phrases used by native English speakers and memorize them to use in your next English conversation. These phrases might be challenging to translate from English to your language. We recommend leaving the translator alone and engaging in our English expressions lesson.
See how these English phrases can be used in such an easy and natural way to make you sound like you’ve been using these expressions all your life! Our native English teacher Brian Dimech will show you examples of real-life situations where you can use these English phrases in an everyday conversation.
Furthermore, our English phrases are ready-to-go functional-language, which means they need minimal changes to grammar or sentence-structure to use when you’re engaging in an English-speaking situation.
This video is perfect for English language students at the CEFR level B1+ (Intermediate) and level B2 (Upper Intermediate).
REMEMBER TO…
It’s OK to watch this video without writing down every word, but remember to come back and write down all the phrases that Brian teaches you. It always helps to write things down if you want to remember them!
IT’S EASY!
We’ve summarised all the phrases towards the beginning and the end of the video, go and see Brian’s goodbye to find all the phrases. Scroll back to after Brian’s introduction to check the correct form for these great English phrases to express your wishes and ambitions!
ALWAYS PLAY
English is a flexible and fun language. Now that you’ve learned the basic situations to use your new English phrases, make sure you change the verbs (see the correct forms in the video!) and find ways of applying them to a variety of different situations! Just make sure that your phrasal structure follows ours!
LISTEN FOR…
The English expressions being taught in these videos are used every day, all over the world. Now that you’ve learned them, you’ll be surprised to know that you’re going to be noticing other people using them a lot. Make sure to join in and use the phrases that you put so much time into learning and remembering.
Student Working and Employment Rights Malta
Want to study English under the sun? We’ve got some good news for you!
Good news for those coming from a non-EU county who want to travel to Malta to learn English. From now on students who study for longer than 3 months are allowed to work in Malta!
The rules? It’s quite simple. Firstly, your language study has to be for 3 months or longer. You can work part-time with this Visa (maximum 20 h/week).
This Visa is valid for the duration of your course, plus an extra seven days. The new system will allow students to work as of the 13th week after their arrival. The work licence is issued once the student visa is approved and the student can apply once they find employment.
Students must attend a minimum 75% of classes to obtain the special Visa, and follow the rules enforced by Jobsplus. (a Maltese organization responsible for employment in Malta)
Do you want to stay in Malta for even longer? No problem, you can get a visa for 6 months if you complete a full-time course at the higher-education level, which will allow you to work a maximum of 20 hours a week while you look for a job. You can apply when you find a job relevant to your studies and your gross salary equals 1.5 times the national minimum wage.
For more information, you can always contact your embassy in Malta or give us a call today (+356 2742 7570).
Malta is one of the most popular destinations to learn English. Since English is one of the official languages in Malta, it is the perfect destination to practice your English daily and become familiar with the language.
A language journey to Malta is something not to be missed. Culture, history, beautiful sceneries and several events make this island the perfect destination for tourists and students who are eager to learn. Malta was a British colony for several years, and you can still find several remnants of this period, such as the typical British telephone booth.
Many students dream of studying abroad and this new legislation will make it a lot easier for students outside of the EU to go on the language adventure of a lifetime.
In 2017 Malta reached an absolute record with 87,190 students who visited this beautiful island to study English.
Learning English and want to put your linguistic knowledge into practice at the same time? What a great idea, the best way to learn a language is to use it every day! That’s Maltalingua School’s mentality too. At Maltalingua we teach inside and outside the classroom.
We are convinced that students will learn the most by using English all day, every day, and interacting with other students and native speakers from all over the world. Within our school walls, we motivate our students to communicate in English, no matter their mother tongue and level of English.
Naturally, our dedicated and motivated staff is always on standby to help out in several languages.
Maltalingua is one of the only language schools on the island that is run by British management, with a rooftop terrace and pool, not to mention the fun, interactive activities that are organized daily on a weekly schedule.
Every Monday we host a welcome party, including Maltese appetizers, for new and old students to meet and mingle.
Discover more about Maltalingua on our website.
Tips to improve your English Conversation skills
Top 5 ways to speak English like a pro.
Throughout your English language journey, you may have studied all the grammatical points, read all the English books you could get your hands on, watched as many English movies as you could and reviewed endless lists of vocabulary builders… but… when you open your mouth to speak, nothing comes out! Producing language is probably the hardest part of learning a language and that’s normal.
Speaking a foreign language in front of other people takes courage and confidence. These tips will help you build up your confidence and speak like a professional.
1. Slow Down
Taking your time when learning a language is OK. If you’re in a classroom, your teacher and the other students in class understand that this might be difficult for you. The most important thing for you to do is breathe, think about what you are going to say and try. There’s no problem in trying to practice all the important things you’ve learnt – just do it slowly.
2. Think
This one might seem obvious to you but our advice here is to think in English. Although this is a challenging task, if you manage to do this your speaking skills will improve. If you are thinking in your language, every time you want to speak in English you have to translate to English, change the structure of the sentence and then speak! This takes time and makes your English speaking skills a lot weaker. The more you practice, the easier it gets.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
The more you practice, the easier it gets – we’re going to repeat this a lot! When you’re trying to improve your skills in something, the best way to get good at it is to practice, practice, practice. Some key ways to help you improve your language skills include; reading out loud or recording yourself – this should be done alone to help build your confidence. Another way is to find a friend who is also trying to improve their English skills and talk together, have a conversation, go for a coffee and listen to each other. The best way to do that is to join a speaking class. At Maltalingua, we offer Intensive Courses to help you improve your speaking skills and gain the confidence to talk.
4. Listen
The next step is to listen. A big part of being scared to speak is worrying about how you sound to others. Listening to a native speaker and repeating what they say is a great way to copy their pronunciation skills. Interacting with people is great, but sometimes you need to practice on your own first. Take a look at our English Language Lessons to give you the boost to speak more fluently.
5. Relax
Probably the most important tip to improve your English Speaking skills is to relax. There’s no need to stress about speaking perfectly – it’s all about learning at your own pace and feeling comfortable about your achievements. Eventually, you will gain the confidence to speak fluently and have a conversation about anything you want.
Key tips on how to give your English skills a boost in 2018.
Want to improve your English?
2018 is here and it’s time for you to remember the promises you made on New Year’s Eve.
You know that long list of goals you wanted to achieve by the end of the year – did you finish them?
Are you trying to do less or more of something? Your ‘more’ list is usually full of new healthy ideas, such as doing more exercise or eating good food. The ‘less’ list might include stop smoking. You should always try to make your life a whole lot better. Use 2018 to challenge yourself and invest in you.
It’s a new year and that only means one thing – new goals! Improve your skills, find new challenges and discover more about yourself. Take on a challenge that will really improve your life.
Have you thought about improving your English?
Here are four ways you can make your learning more rewarding:
- Read more: If you’re ready for the challenge then why not check these 9 great novels that can really help improve your English. Reading English books on a daily basis can improve your vocabulary skills too.
- Speak more: A great way to improve your language is to keep your speaking skills on point. Set one day a week to speak English – order your coffee in English, speak to English-speaking colleagues or friends. Give it a try.
- Listen more: Movies are your friends! Take it easy at first, use subtitles and enjoy the show. You can also take a look at the Maltalingua videos found here.
- Write more: Keeping a diary can help you improve your writing skills, help build your vocabulary and give you the confidence to take your English skills to the next level.
Learning English is fun and rewarding. It will give you new opportunities for your personal life and your business life. Learning English makes travelling easier – you’ll be able to speak to locals and make your way around a city a lot easier.
When it comes to business, knowing English can help you get great jobs. Your professional life will become more exciting and rewarding. Are you interested yet?
At Maltalingua, the environment is just right. With professional teachers, equipped classrooms within an Eaquals accredited school found in sunny Malta, modern accommodation and exciting, daily activities – the choice is simple.
You can have a 20% discount on all Courses and School Accommodation booked by the end of February. Discounts will be given to students who visit the school by the end of March.
What are you waiting for? Get this offer, book now and save!
Getting some winter sun in Malta
While summer is undoubtedly the busiest season here in Malta, over that past few years we’ve noticed a real increase in the number of people coming in the winter. There are several reasons for this: the islands are more peaceful, the class sizes are smaller and the prices lower, but for many people the most attractive thing is the chance to get some winter sun.
When the weather in Northern Europe turns cold and grey many eyes turn southward to our little Mediterranean Island. The thought of getting some winter sunshine and topping up their tan while topping up their English can be very enticing for many people.
In the winter months the islands are noticeably quieter and significantly greener. This makes exploring the Maltese countryside even more enjoyable. On a sunny winter day, the water looks clearer, the sky seems bluer and the air feels fresher. It’s not unusual for the temperature to go over 20 degrees Celsius, perfect for taking a hike around the beautiful coastline and dramatic cliffs on the west side of the Islands.
The sea is at its coldest in January and February, too cold for most to swim, but you do see a few brave people out challenging themselves. However, on the nicest winter days sunbathing next to the sea is still a popular pastime. You might even see some people out having a BBQ with friends.
Other great activities you can do in Malta in the winter include: quad bike tours of Gozo, shopping in famous fishing village of Marsaxlokk, watching historical re-enactments, boat trips to the beautiful Blue Grotto and many more.
The Maltese love a good celebration and being a strongly Christian country means Christmas is a really special time of year here. The decorations are spectacular and there is a real feeling or excitement and anticipation throughout December. The picturesque streets of Valletta look particularly beautiful when dressed up for holiday season.
Being the sunniest country in the EU certainly means Malta has a lot to offer winter travelers. The chance to absorb some sunshine, boost your vitamin D levels and explore the culture and countryside at a slower pace makes it an especially attractive option.
Have yo been to Malta in the winter? What did you like best? Leave a comment below to let us know.
7 best events in Malta – Autumn 2017
At Maltalingua we love to go to all the great events happening in September and October in Malta. We’ve used our insider knowledge to create the following list of the best events in Malta in Autumn 2017.
While most of Europe is becoming chilly in Autumn, Malta gets lovely average temperatures of around 26 degrees in the daytime. The sea temperate also stays warm enough for most people to swim right into November. These comfortable temperatures make Autumn a great time for events in Malta, and people here make the most of it!
Top events in Malta in Autumn 2017
Maltese Independence Day – Various Locations – 21 September
Malta was a British Colony for 164 years until 21 September 1964 when the country gained its political independence. People here are very proud of their country and they love to celebrate the nation’s achievements. Independence Day is one of the most special, as such there are celebrations all over their islands. Some of the best celebrations can be found in the capital city, Valletta.
Malta International Airshow – Malta International Airport – 23 & 24 September
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Malta International Airshow. The show has grown in one of Malta’s most popular, and most photographed events. Spectators can be amazed by the incredible acrobatic skills of top stunt pilots from around the globe. You’ll also get a close look at these incredible aircraft.
Rockestra – MFCC, Ta’ Qali – 30 September
At Rockestra music fans can see very different genres of music collide. It’s a dazzling show of rock and pop covers played by the orchestra with special guest singers and rock musicians bringing something a little different to proceedings.
The Malta Classic – Mdina – 5 to 8 October
The Malta Classic is the perfect event for fans of classic cars and motor racing. Set in the stunning city of Mdina, classic car enthusiasts show off their beloved machines then take to the roads to compete in the races. The main event is the Mdina Grand Prix held on the 7 and 8th of October.
Notte Bianca – Valletta – 7 October
During the “white night” the cultural centers of Valletta light and open to the public late into the evening. Museums, galleries and even the parliament building welcome visitors for free. There are also many lively attractions happening on the streets of this beautiful city.
Birgu Fest – Birgu – 14 October
On an island famous for its lavish village feasts, it takes something really special to gain the reputation of being the most beautiful of all. For one night of the year, the city of Birgu is covered in candles and transformed. The effect is spectacular and walking through the narrow historic back streets bathed in candlelight is a truly memorable and romantic experience.
Rolex Middlesea Race – Valletta Grand Harbour – 21 October
Now coming into its 38th year, Malta’s number one sailing race has become one of the top events of the yearly calendar. Visitors can take a stroll along the Birgu waterfront to see the great vessels close-up or just watch them departing from the any of the bastion walls overlooking the Grand Harbour. It’s a sight to remember!
Want information about all the best events in Malta in 2017? Then check out our Malta Events 2017 page.
Which events would you most like to go to? Are there any you think we’ve missed? Leave a comment to let us know!
Maltalingua Star Awards – May, June and July 2017
We’re having a very busy summer at Maltalingua, and our staff have been doing a great job! We like to thank them for their hard work each month, and choose one teacher and one other staff member to receive our Maltalingua Star Awards.
May 2017 – Maltalingua Star Teacher of the month: The Whole Teaching Team 🙂
The standards of the whole teaching team were so high in May that it was impossible to choose just one winner. Congratulations everyone!
Star teaching team May 2017
May 2017 – Maltalingua Star of the month: Marialuisa Esposito
During one of the busiest times for the year for our registrars Marialuisa was a stand-out. Her organisational skills, calm temperament and efficiency helped her to do an excellent job of dealing with a very high volume of quotations, inquiries and bookings.
Star staff member May 2017
June 2017 – Maltalingua Star Teacher of the month: Toni Cassar-Dowling
Toni was invaluable in June. At a very busy time, her hard work, experience and administrative skills made her a star performer. Our DOS knows she can trust Toni to look after the day-to-day running of the academic department whenever required.
Star teacher June 2017
June 2017 – Maltalingua Star of the month: Julian Micallef
In June Julian did an excellent job of making sure that our new apartment renovations and upgrades were completed on-time and to a very high standard. This was a complicated task that required a lot of planning and people management skills. The new air-conditioned apartments are looking fantastic and the students love staying in them.
Star staff member June 2017
July 2017 – Maltalingua Star Teacher of the month: Louisa Testa
Louisa is adored by our junior students. In July, the excellent feedback she received from our young students propelled her to the Star Teacher of the Month award. Her positivity and helpfulness were also big factors in her receiving the award. In the words of our DOS “She’s a real team player”.
Star teacher July 2017
July 2017 – Maltalingua Star of the month: Indira Gimeno
Indira’s duties changed a lot in July. She received lots of training and did exceptionally well. She learned quickly and adapted to her new role with great positivity and professionalism.
Star staff member July 2017
Do you want to let us know who your favourite member of the Maltalingau team is? Then leave a comment below.
8 Best Events in Malta – Summer 2017
Summer is a fantastic time to be in Malta. The sea is warm, the sun shining and the islands have a really exciting energy, but one of our favourite things about summer is all the excellent events in Malta. Whatever your interests, there is sure to be an event or two that is a great fit for you.
We’ve compiled a list of our top 8 events for July and August 2017. These will give you a good idea of what the islands have to offer this summer.
The Marsovin Summer Wine Festival – Hastings Garden, Valletta – 7 to 9 July, 8pm to 1am
Listen to some great live music and try some of Malta’s finest wines in a beautiful location. Held in Hastings Gardens, a scenic park perched on top of Valletta’s fortress walls, the event has a very special atmosphere and is one of the highlights of Malta’s social calendar.
Malta International Food Festival 2017 – Mdina – 21 to 23 July
The Malta International Food festival isn’t just an excuse to eat delicious foods from around the world. It’s also a great opportunity to improve your cooking skills and listen to some quality live music. Over the course of the weekend, there will be many live cooking demonstrations. The event is held in the beautifully refurbished Mdina ditch, right next to the walls of the famous ‘Silent City’.
Feast of St Julian – St Julians – 25 to 27 August
The Feast of St Julian certainly has one of the best atmospheres of all the festas in Malta. Tourists and locals party side–by–side and celebrate around the streets of St Julians at the height of summer. Over the course of several days, there are fireworks displays, marching bands being showered with shredded paper and even a competition where people try to run up a greased pole – most of whom fall into the sea.
The Farsons Great Beer Festival – National Park, Ta’Qali – 28 July to 6 August
This 10–day long celebration of music and beer has been a summer highlight in Malta for 36 years. An exciting lineup of live music and an equally exciting beer menu keeps fans coming back for more.
Unite with Tomorrowland – Marsa Sports Grounds – 29 July
Tomorrowland, EDM’s biggest and boldest festival is coming to Malta for the first time this summer. DJ Snake, DVBBS, and Laidback Luke have all been announced with more to follow. It’s recommended to book early as tickets are likely to sell out fast.
Fatboy Slim at Cafe Del Mar – 30 July
DJ and producer extraordinaire Fatboy Slim will be taking over Malta’s most famous venue for a night of banging tunes and outrageous mixes. Watch the sunset and enjoy listening to a master at work.
La Belle Musique Malta – 5 August
Starting from nothing in 2013, their mixes have attracted over 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube. La Belle Musique is perfect for those of you who prefer a more chilled out electronic music festival with a very positive vibe.
Feast of Saint Mary Fireworks – Mqabba – 14 August, 9:30pm to Midnight
The Feast of Saint Mary is celebrated all over Malta, but the most popular event is the fireworks display in the little southern town of Mqabba. Malta has a great tradition of creating top–class fireworks. Many small factories compete to put on the best displays. Two of the most respected companies are based in Mqabba so this Festa always has an extra special fireworks extravaganza.
You can read about our favourite events for the whole of 2017 on the Malta Events 2017 page of our main website.
If you’d like to do an English course and join us at some of these great events why not get a quick, no obligation quote?
Which events are you most interested in? Are there any others you’d like to go to? Leave a comment and let us know.
Maltalingua Star Awards – April 2017
At Maltalingua we’re lucky to have such a great team. From the office staff to the teachers, from the registrars to the activity coordinators and from the principle to the group leaders we’ve got smart, capable and committed staff right through the school.
To show appreciation for all the hard work done by the team, each month we’re going to have 2 special star awards:
Maltalingua Star Teacher of the Month
Maltalingua Star of the Month
In April, we had many strong contenders for each award, but we had to choose only one for each:
Maltalingua Star Teacher of the month: Harriett Bussell-Nguyen
Star Teacher!
Well done Harri! She received some excellent feedback from students recently:
I would like to praise Harriet for being really the best teacher I could have imagined to have. She had really lively, well prepared classes, and I really appreciate we had her as a teacher.
– Ilona Cerna
I liked the familiar and friendly athmosphere at maltalingua. Teaching lessons with Harriette were quite intensive and funny.
– Anonymous
I Love Harri & Toni 😉
– Anonymous
She also currently doing a great job of studying for her DELTA (an extremely high level of English teaching qualification).
Maltalingua Star of the Month: Marta Szmidt
Star Staff Member
Well done Marta! She’s made Maltalingua one of the most popular School’s on the Island for Polish students. Her lively personality and dedication to great customer service have been hugely appreciated by all the staff here and all of her clients.
Have you got a favourite staff member at Maltalingua? Leave a comment below to let us know whom!