What's New in CILL

Report Writing: Introductions - a page to help you understand the content and grammar of report introductions. It contains explanations, an example and an exercise.

New on 27 September 2007

Concern - how to use concern correctly

New on 5 September 2007

The transition from school to university - a reading and categorisation activity.

New on 23 April 2007

Common Errors in Report Writing

New on 5 March 2007

Memo writing scenario and practice task

New on 25 September 2006

Job interview simulation - practice interviews in an animation

New on 7 March

Adjustment letter practice task - type in your letter and the computer will analyse it for you, and give you some feedback.

New on 27 February

How to write complaint letters - describes the content, language and organisation of letters of complaint, and includes examples and an exercise.

New on 19 February

Enquiry letter replies - describes the content and language of letters of enquiry, with example letters. Includes an exercise.

New on 7 February

How to write adjustment letters - includes the stages of dealing with complaints, some useful expressions, some example letters, and an exercise.

New on 3 February

Enquiry letters - describes the content, language and organisation of letters of enquiry. Includes an exercise.

New on 24 January

Verbs of Knowledge and Opinion - this exercise is to help you to avoid common confusions between the uses of the verbs know, learn, understand, think and believe.

New on 19 January 2006

How to write memos

New on 17 January 2006

The Job-seeking Process - listen and put the steps in the right order

New on 14 January 2006

New on 16 November

List of games on the CILL site

New on 8 November

Make-a-word pronunciation game

New on 5 November

New on 28 October

Academic Word List hangman game

New on 19 October

Vowel game - for groups to practise IPA vowel sounds; e.g. /I/, /i:/, /e/ and /æ/

New on 20 September

Sounding out i, e and æ sounds

New on 11 September

Coherence in a Text on Palmistry

New on 7 September

Requesting an interview about a company - the organisation and content of a message requesting an interview to find out details of a company.

New on 7 June

Questionnaire design and administration

New on 5 May

Job application letter checklist

New on 30 March

Report Writing Scenario Site

New on 9 March

How to write e-mail

New on 2 February

Informal English names; e.g. Bill=William

New on 12 January 2005

The Use of Prepositions in Job Applications

New on 7 December

It is because and this is because - an explanation and an exercise

New on 16 November

Presentation checklist

New on 11 November

The Sounds of British English in the IPA (International Phonemic Alphabet) chart

New on 5 November

New on 12 October

Change and continuity: nouns and verbs table
Change and continuity: nouns and verbs gap fill
Change and continuity: nouns and verbs multiple choice

New on 11 October

New on 8 October

New on 5 October

Synonyms for nouns

New on 30 September

Transitivity - transitive and intransitive verbs

New on 24 September

Conditional Clauses

New on 23 September

Passive Voice

New on 21 September

New on 20 September

Vocabulary to express similarity and difference - fill in the blanks
Vocabulary to express similarity and difference - common mistakes
Word Roots - gap fill
Word Roots - matching
Mortgage vocabulary - definitions and a gap fill exercise
Investment Phrases - matching exercise
Mortgage Phrases - matching exercise

New on 10 September

New on 30 August

CILL EAP Diary Frequently-asked Questions
Nouns
Prefix Meanings - a matching exercise
Prefixes Crossword
Sentence Types
Key Words in University Study - Nouns - Crossword
Verbs of Academic Communication - Crossword

New on 2 June

RTHK Backchat Program - latest program on current topics, good for listening practice

New on 19 April

Common Errors in Report Writing - revision exercise.

New on 8 April

Report Recommendations Correction Exercise - correct the common errors.
Subject Headings - how to write correct subject headings.

New on 4 April

Apologise / apologises / apologies - the grammar of 'apologise'.

New on 3 April

Complain / complaint / complained - the grammar of 'complain'.

New on 31 March

The Procedure / Method section of a report - a text-reconstruction exercise to help you remember the language of this section of a report.

New on 30 March

Report Introductions - a text-reconstruction exercise to help you remember the language of the introduction to a report.

New on 29 March

Report Stages and Content - what goes in each section of a report
Stages and Language of a Report - useful phrases for the sections of a report

New on 23 March

Positive Tone in Adjustment Letters

New on 12 March

Describing Numbers - an explanation, a program to write and speak a number, and an exercise

New on 5 March 2004

Reference Letter Writer - fill in the boxes and the computer will give you a correctly-formatted reference letter

New on 24 February 2004

List of the top ten most popular pages on the CILL website

New on 6 February 2004

Adjustment Letter Constructor - build a letter of adjustment by selecting the right phrases.

New on 30 January 2004

Job Application Knowledge Game

New on 30 December 2003

Subject-verb agreement - an explanation and an exercise.

New on 23 December 2003

Adjective order - what order to write or say adjectives in, and a technique to help you to memorise them.

New on 19 December 2003

Because or Due to the fact that - an explanation and an exercise.

New on 14 November 2003

Academic style guidelines - an explanation and a correction exercise.

New on 10 November 2003

Synthesis - information and examples of how to describe different opinions, how to analyse them, and how to give your own opinion.

New on 7 November 2003

Relative clauses - an explanation and a practice exercise

New on 3 November 2003

Contrast Clauses - in spite of the fact that, etc.

New on 24 October 2003

Prepositions and Geography - grammar rules and a multiple choice exercise.
Matching Synonyms - deliberate, evidence etc.
Matching Antonyms - predominant, expand etc.

New on 29 September 2003

Suggesting solutions - choosing whether a sentence that suggests a solution is formal or informal.
Checklist for EAP 2003 Assignment 2 Essay

New on 20 September 2003

Parts of speech exercise on 'migrant' etc.
Matching Listening Vocabulary - to schedule etc.
Matching formal and phrasal verbs.

New on 15 September 2003

Genetic Engineering Vocabulary - you can click the links for definitions, example sentences, pronunciations and Chinese translations
Personality adjectives and their opposites - a matching exercise
Synonyms - matching words with similar meanings
Derogatory words - matching adjectives and words that are critical descriptions of people.
Adjectives to describe multiple intelligences - vocabulary tips and a matching exercise.
Parts of speech exercise for contribute, introduction, objection, determine and cooperate.
Essay introductions - a text on the health of students, and a text re-construction exercise.
Essay paragraphs - a text on multiple dimensions of the tutor-student relationship, with paragraphs in order of importance. Includes a text re-construction exercise.
Essay conclusions - a text on the health of students, and a text re-construction exercise.

New on 1 September 2003

Formality - an exercise in making sentences more formal with more formal vocabulary (somewhat, fluctuate, obtain, major, questionable, increasingly, unacceptable, controversial, disappointing & deteriorate).
An Ideal Language Learner - interactive listening exercise
Seminar on the Transition from School to University - interactive listening exercise

New on 26 July 2003

Prepositions - at, in, on. Shoot the aliens to win. Games: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. (Internet Explorer only)
Prepositions - of, for and from. Shoot the aliens to win. Games: 1, 2 and 3. (Internet Explorer only)

New on 23 July 2003

Collocations - contains links to the vocabulary; e.g. 'meet', and a matching exercise
Collocations - contains links to the vocabulary; e.g. 'express' and a matching exercise.
Collocations - contains links to the vocabulary; e.g. 'empirical' and a matching exercise.

New on 30 May 2003

Academic Vocabulary - lists of academic words. You can click the links for definitions, example sentences and pronunciations.

New on 22 April 2003

Report Correction Exercise - correct these common errors made by students in report writing, so that you can avoid making the same mistakes.

New on 10 April 2003

The Language of Approximation - an exercise in describing numbers in an easy-to-understand way
Approximation Correction exercise - to check that you can use the language of approximation correctly.

New on 9 April 2003

Report Writing: Formality - an exercise to help you to write reports using formal language.

New on 8 April 2003

Matching Nouns and Verbs for Reports - an exercise in choosing the right vocabulary for reports.
Types of Report - the names of different types of report and what they mean.
Report Headings - understand the type of information each section of a report should contain.

New on 6 February 2003

Memo Headings - making the organisation of your memos more reader-friendly

New on 16 January 2003

IELTS - the ELC's IELTS information and practice exercises
Spring 2003 Workshops
Job Advert Writer

New on 13 December 2002

Trends Headings - this exercise shows how to use headings when describing trends. Includes an exercise.
Letter of Adjustment (Reply to a Letter of Complaint) spot-the-mistake exercise.

New on 21 June 2002

Tour the CILL Internet Site - a 10-page tour to show you the useful materials on the CILL Internet site.
Steps in Process Writing - an ordering activity
Explanation of functions in essay titles, and an exercise on which functions to use
Formal and Informal Sentences - a matching exercise
Common Errors in Formality in Academic Writing - an exercise in choosing a more formal phrase

New on 27 April 2002

'Lack' or 'Lack of '? - an explanation and an exercise

New on 10 April 2002.

Job Interview Panel Discussion - example phrases and an ordering activity.

New on 14 March 2002.

Important or Importance? Explanation and exercise on which word to use.
Satisfaction - choosing between 'satisfy', 'satisfied', 'satisfying' and 'satisfactory', etc.

New on 21 February 2002.

Collocations 1 - adjectives that collocate with: display, apologies, funds, judgement, estimate, investigation, compensation, achievement, interest, incident, offer and news.
Collocations 2 - verbs that collocate with: arrangements, communication, instructions, a memo, procedures, damage, evidence, an image, the facts, the grounds for..., apologies and our deepest concerns.
Workplace Idioms - Explanation and Examples, Exercise 1, Exercise 2.

New on 11th February 2002.
Problem words - exercise on the differences between some commonly confused words. Includes links to pronunciation, definitions and examples.

New on 26th November 2001.
Presentation Planner - helps you to write presentations by asking you for all the necessary sections of a presentation. It then produces printable notecards and a script. It also reads your presentation to you to help with your pronunciation.

New on 30th October 2001.

Using Sources (References) - correct the in-text referencing errors in these sentences.

New on 23rd October 2001.

Using Sources (References) - correct the bibliographic referencing errors in these references.

New on 8th October 2001.

Cause and Effect - this exercise introduces the vocabulary and grammar needed to describe causes and effects. Includes an exercise.

New on 5th October 2001.

Categorisation - this exercise introduces the vocabulary and grammar needed for the function of categorisation, and includes a short exercise to help you check that you understand.

New on 3rd October 2001.

Describing trends - some useful vocabulary and a gap-fill exercise.

New on 27th September 2001.

Functions - exercise ondefinition, comparison and contrast.

New on 17 July 2001.

Idea Web - a mind map tool for organising and prioritising your ideas to help you organise your essays and presentations.

New on 3 July 2001.

Organisation Tool - type your ideas into the boxes in this program, then re-order them with the 'Up' and 'Down' buttons. You can then print out the re-ordered ideas. Saves you time because this is easier than doing it on paper.

New on 18 April 2001.

CILL Monthly Theme: Health - click here to see the posters, the answers to the questions on the posters, and links to useful sites on the theme of health.

New on 14 March 2001.

Resume Writer - a program to help you write and format your resume
.

New on 29 January 2001.

EIW Materials

New on 5 December 2000.

ELC Materials on Presentations.

New on 8 November 2000.

Summary, Quotation or Paraphrase - how to decide which one to use in your academic essays.

New on the 10th October 2000

We have audio books that you can read and listen to at the same time. They include:

Animal Farm
Drink with the Devil
Motivation and Goal Setting

New on the 5th September 2000

EAP Homework Suggestions

New on the 28th August 2000

Diagnostic Grammar Test - find out your grammar problems and how to solve them

New on the 7th July 2000

Job Application Letter Writer - fill in the spaces and this program will write your job application for you!

New on the 27th June 2000

Job application grammar game. Shoot down the aliens as they attack the Polytechnic! ONLY WORKS IN INTERNET EXPLORER, best at a resolution of 800 x 600.

New on the 13th June 2000

Details for the Sounds Pronunciation Program.

New on the 30th May 2000

Advanced Dictionary Skills Site - Improve your grammar, vocabulary and writing by learning how use dictionaries faster and more efficiently.

New on 10th May 2000

Vocabulary: Common Confusions - a developmental quiz with feedback.

New on 6th May 2000.

Job Interview Quiz on the content and grammar of interview answers.

New on 25th April 2000.

Exercise on Articles and Geography - teaches you the correct articles to use before countries, cities, islands, mountains, lakes, seas and oceans.

New on 23rd March 2000.

Practice materials for the 'Graduating Students' Language Proficiency Assessment' Test. This is an English test for many HKPU third-year students. We now have the official practice materials for this test, including booklets and audio CDs for the listening section. Come to CILL to prepare for this test, as these materials are not available on the Internet.

New on 11th March 2000.

Minutes of the student committee meeting of 10 March 2000. Find out the plans for CILL.

New on 2nd March 2000.

The Student Committee - a group of students representing the interests of CILL users. Click here to find out more.

New on 1st February 2000.

CILL Materials for the ELC English in the Workplace Course

New on 17th December 1999.

Exercise on ordering useful phrases for different stages of a presentation.

New on 29th November 1999.

Assessment submission form. Use this form to submit your written assessments to your teacher over the internet.

New on 27th November 1999.

Checklist for Assessment Four. This checklist will help you to plan your presentation.

New on 18th November 1999.

Reference machine: fill in the boxes to make a correctly formatted reference.

New on 12th November 1999.

Checklist for Assessment Three. This checklist will help you to assess and proof-read your writing.

New on 22nd October 1999.

Checklist for Assessment Two. This checklist will help you to assess and proof-read your writing.

New on 9th September 1999.

Lists of CILL materials to help with EAP (English for Academic Purposes):

EAP - Unit 2 - Materials for Participating in Academic Discussion Groups
EAP - Unit 3 - Materials for Academic Writing
EAP - Unit 4 - Materials for Structuring Academic Writing
EAP - Unit 5 - Materials for Citing Sources
EAP - Unit 6 - Materials for Expressions and Style in Academic Writing
EAP - Unit 7 - Materials for Assessing and Revising Academic Writing

New on 5th September 1999.

New on 10th June 1999.

Feedback form. Fill in this form to give us your private feedback on this site.

Are there things you would like us to include?
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Tell us here.

New on 17^th May 1999.

A series of summer courses will be run from 14th June to 27th August and held in CILL or one of the rooms in L008.

Activities will include:

video watching and discussion
a photographic club
grammar and pronunciation workshops
role-plays
Internet activities
discussion groups focusing on fashion, news and sports.

New on 5th May 1999.

Update of Job Application advice page.

New on 30th April 1999.

Link to Exite mail. Click 'E-mail' on the CILL home page in the big 'C' design. This will take you down the page to the e-mail section.

New on 28th April 1999.

We want to re-decorate CILL in a more lively and interesting way. Please send us your suggestions by e-mail, in writing, or come and talk to us.
We are planning a summer program of activities. If you have any suggestions and can come in the summer, please contact us.

New on 21st April 1999.

Quick links to your Internet e-mail site; e.g. Hotmail: click 'E-mail' on the CILL home page in the big 'C' design. This will take you down the page to the e-mail section.
An e-mail list. If you would like us to e-mail you about updates to the CILL Internet site and about events and new things in CILL, click here to send us an e-mail containing your e-mail address, and asking to be put on the CILL mailing list.

New on 17th April 1999.

A search page to help you find things on the CILL site and on the Internet.

New on 12th April 1999.

Useful Links - A page of useful links to other sites for learning English on the Internet.

New on 1st February 1999.

New e-mail address:
CILL: eccill@inet.polyu.edu.hk

New on 14th January 1999.

This page!!
Link to CNN's reading site on the CILL reading links page.
ESL Loop links to other sites for learning English on the CILL Home page.

Last updated on: Thursday, February 27, 2014